The new A465 heads of the valley road is now complete. The last traffic cone was removed on Friday 30th May, a historic day for the region’s economy.
No longer just a bypass, the route will grow the social, economic and business identity of the region. The key east-west economic artery now provides fast, congestion-free journeys from South Wales, connecting to the West Midlands, West Wales and Ireland. This strategically important asset for the local and regional economy is now open and will:
- Strengthen local connections
- Maximise the business benefits
- Capture spending power
- Create a unique visitor destination. 1
Facts and figures
Originally the route was described as the "road from hell" but after more than two decades of roadworks and congestion, one of the UK's most expensive and complex road upgrade projects is finally complete.
The project has cost £2bn, covers 28 miles (45 km) of roadway and has seen many twists and turns in government policy, overcoming Brexit, and changes in construction planning over 23 years of roadworks. Originally proposed in 1990 by Margaret Thatcher’s government, the rebuild was started under Tony Blair in 2002.
The environmental impact (seven million kilograms of C02 a year) has been mitigated by the planting of 285,000 trees. Indigenous wildlife has also been carefully considered and species such as bats, dormice and great crested newts have been moved to maintain habitat numbers.
Government Approval
The project will cut journey times significantly from West Wales to the commercial wealth of the Midlands, and will boost prosperity to the region. It has been described by Welsh Government minister Jane Hutt as "one of the most significant infrastructure investments in the whole of the UK."
And Wales Transport Secretary appointed in March 2024, Ken Skates has said
"In 50 years' time, experts will look back and say the single biggest thing the Welsh government has done to raise the prospects of Heads of the Valleys communities is building this road. This is about generating jobs, prosperity, opportunities and better connecting and benefiting communities across the region."
"As a whole, the Heads of the Valleys project is one of the UK's biggest road upgrade projects for many years," said Keith Jones of the Institution of Civil Engineers.’2
Acclaimed by Cabinet Ministers, Civil Engineers and Cab drivers alike, business at Parc Felindre will be discovering faster routes to and from their destination due to this major new connection.
Contact our agent direct for accessible, serviced Business Land available NOW!
References
1Beavan Foundation Report 2021 - https://www.bevanfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/More-than-a-bypass-Final-150221.pdf
2BBC news - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cpvkdvrm1wpo
3https://oneh2.com/
Photographs courtesy of
Wikipedia
Gov Wales Ken Skates Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales
Pixabay
