ernie,
I live just outside Porthmadog next to Portmeirion.A new by-pass has just started to be built which will by-pass Porthmadog. The new road will turn off the existing Penrhyndeudraeth to Porthmadog road just short of Minffordd at a new large island, involving lowering the road by 12 feet so that it can go under the Ffestiniog Railway line, and run along side the main line railway, accros the marshes, to between Porthmadog and Tremadog. At a large island one branch will go to Criccieth and another to Caernarvon.
However during it's construction over the next 2 plus years i would avoid Pothmadog unless you actually want to visit the town.
Plus the fact that in the next few months the new West Highland Railway will start to run, along for 100 yards and crossing over the main high street in Porthmadog, joining up with the Ffestiniog Railway at Harbour station.
You can imagine the delays caused by the new road construction and the railway.
Therefore if you do not have to travel through Porthmadog in the next couple of years i would avoid it.
I would travel along the A55 to Bangor, then to Caernarvon, then A487 onto A499 to Pwllheli, then to Abersoch. This misses out Porthmadog.
When the by-pass is complete it will improve travelling times for everyone, missing out Porthmadog and the Cob if required, and making our village far more peaceful!!
Hamer