Maerdy Mountain Road reopens on September 27 2017
Highway works at Maerdy Mountain Road will be completed by September 27 as the substantial and essential landslip repairs near an end.
Working closely with its contractor, the Local Authority has ensured ongoing progress has continued with the complex project, in order to re-open the road during September – the target stated before work began.
The vital stabilisation project is being undertaken with a full road closure, and follows a landslip caused by prolonged rainfall in December 2015 – affecting a 150-metre stretch at Aberdare’s end of the road.
Taking advantage of the closure, wider improvements to future-proof the mountain route are being undertaken thanks to significant Council investment through #RCTinvest. Full 6km road re-surfacing, repair and replacement of dry stone retaining walls and drainage improvements are being delivered.
The scheme also includes a range of improvements to the safety of the route following a successful bid for Welsh Government Road Safety Funding Grant – such as hazard markings, road re-marking, new reflective roadstuds and measures to reduce the potential for standing water.
Currently, work continues on drainage improvements and the reinforced concrete beam. New crash barriers have been installed, and following the completion of preparation works, resurfacing of this important mountain route is underway commencing on the Maerdy side.
While works to the Highway will be substantially completed by September 27, temporary traffic lights may be required to allow the road to re-open as soon as possible while the remaining works off the Highway are carried out.
Councillor Andrew Morgan, Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and Cabinet Member with responsibility for Highways, said: “The scale and complexity of the work which was required to repair and future proof the road should not be underestimated and it is a real positive that the Highway works will be completed by September 27.
“I’m sure this news will be welcomed by regular users of this Cynon-Rhondda gateway and they can be assured that we will take the earliest possible opportunity to re-open the road to traffic – even if this means temporary traffic measures are in place for a week or so to allow peripheral works to be completed off the highway.
“The essential full closure for landslip remediation has allowed the Council to deliver wider, substantial improvements for the benefit of road users – including full re-surfacing, which was also delivered on Rhigos Mountain Road earlier this year.
“I would like to thank residents for their continued cooperation while the road remains closed. Further details about the arrangements for re-opening the road will be communicated by the Council in due course.”
