An extensive highways scheme costing £250,000 to rebuild a collapsed culvert in the Cynon Valley is nearing completion.

Ongoing works have taken place at the site of the collapsed Nant Neol culvert in Cwmaman for several months after major disruption was caused due to the extent of the damage.

For the past seven weeks a construction team has worked tirelessly to repair the culvert. The team faced huge problems while trying to ascertain the cause of the collapse due to the depth of the required excavation. and the presence of running water.

The culvert has been established at being located at an extremely challenging depth of approximately 11m.

Following a period of lengthy investigation, around two weeks ago the permanent remedial works to the collapsed section began. This involved the construction of a concrete slab and the provision a concrete manhole chamber 1.8m diameter to allow for access into the culvert for any future maintenance.

The contractor is currently infilling the excavation with suitable material and simultaneously removing the sheet piling and the waling frames that were required for health and safety reasons

This week Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport and Customer Care Cllr Andrew Morgan visited the site to oversee the excellent work undertaken to remedy the problem.

Cllr Morgan said: “The work which has been undertaken to repair the culvert in Cwmaman is exemplary. Our Highways Team and contractors were faced with some serious problems when trying to locate the damage, measure the extent of it and then draw up a plan on how to rebuild it.

“This has been problematic and very complex from the start but at last the dedication shown by them is paying dividends. The work itself is nearing completion which I know will come as great relief to local residents.

“The construction of the carriageway will commence once the contractor is satisfied that the land has settled following their extensive work below.”