The Welsh Government has announced that one of the largest UK road projects will be delivered this year. The work on the Heads of the Valleys road will be completed later in 2025. Work on the A465 (Dowlais to Hirwaun) section, is due to be finished by summer 2025. The project has been a number of years in the making, and is estimated to cost more than one billion pounds.
However for business access to Parc Felindre and the entire Swansea region, the project will:\
- improve accessibility
- allow for greater traffic volumes
- reduce journey times
- provide extra resilience and reliability
- enhance road safety.1
The route is recognised by the Welsh Government as a strategically important national route. The road provides a key link to the Midlands, south west Wales and is an alternative to the parallel M4 route.2
The Heads of the Valleys road connecting communities between Abergavenny and Neath was originally constructed in the early 1960s. The Welsh Government believes that an upgraded Heads of Valleys highway will drive investment in the area by improving accessibility.
The overall Heads of the Valleys road upgrade project was divided into six sections, with construction of the first between Tredegar and Dowlais Top starting in March 2002 after approval was granted following a public inquiry in 1999.2
Property and environmental constraints posed design and construction challenges for the upgrade on the Heads of Valleys road development. Dualling the 17.3km stretch of the A465 Heads of the Valleys road between Dowlais Top and Hirwaun is the biggest road infrastructure project ever commissioned by the Welsh Government.
As well as the new dual carriageway the work includes:
- 6 new grade separated junctions
- 6km of side roads
- 14km of paths for walkers, cyclists and horses
- 3 steel truss footbridges
- 5 precast underpasses
- 13 single span bridges
- 3 two span concrete bridges
- 6 single span steel plate girder bridges with precast concrete decks
- 28 retaining walls
- 38 culverts.
- 12 temporary water treatment plants to remove silt
- 20 permanent attenuation ponds.2
As well as connecting businesses and communities by linking the Valleys, South and West Wales to the English Midlands and beyond, the Welsh Government says the scheme has also created significant opportunities for the local economy.1
More than 2,000 new jobs have been created, with more than half of those employed living locally, and also 158 apprentices have been employed.
The Welsh Government said a number of measures were taken to protect the eco system, like the relocation of species such as great crested newt and marsh fritillary butterfly.
On a visit to the project, cabinet secretary for transport and North Wales Ken Skates highlighted the benefits of the scheme.
“This project is an incredibly impressive piece of engineering and a fantastic example of how targeted investment in road infrastructure can deliver on many levels, providing jobs for the local community, improving accessibility, supporting education and skills, alongside delivering environmental benefits.
It’s been a complex project which has not been without its challenges, and I would like to thank everyone who has played their part in helping us to deliver one of the largest road projects in the UK.’ 3
Business at Parc Felindre will gain from this outstanding transport and engineering initiative, continuing the Welsh Government’s commitment to targeted development for business and community growth.
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References:
1 https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2025-01-06/finish-date-announced-for-heads-of-the-valleys-road
2 https://www.newcivilengineer.com/in-depth/future-of-roads-heads-of-the-valleys-road-upgrade-overcomes-challenging-ground-conditions-28-09-2023/
3 https://www.highwaysmagazine.co.uk/End-in-sight-for-A465-Heads-of-Valleys-but-costs-rise-again
Photographs courtesy of:
https://www.highwaysmagazine.co.uk/End-in-sight-for-A465-Heads-of-Valleys-but-costs-rise-again/14293
https://www.jacobs.com/projects/a465-sections-5-6
Wikipedia
https://premierconstructionnews.com/2019/09/18/a465-heads-of-the-valleys-dualling/
Highways Magazine
