Mountain Ash Cross Valley Link – Cardiff Road junction works
Good progress continues to be made with Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s flagship Mountain Ash Cross Valley Link project – and its next phase will see £270,000 improvements to the Cardiff Road junction.
The overall scheme, which is planned for construction during 2019-20, will see a 60m bridge built from Cwm Cynon Industrial Estate to Miskin Road, over the Aberdare-Cardiff railway line and the River Cynon. It will provide a key link for traffic travelling on the A4059 and B4275, in order to relieve congestion at Mountain Ash and along the wider A4059/B4275 corridor.
To date, £7.551m has been allocated to the project following significant investment from the Council and the Welsh Government – to which £3.601m can be attributed. Its latest funding of £1.5m was announced in March 2017 as part of its Local Transport Fund grant scheme.
Significant improvement works to the Cardiff Road junction on the industrial estate will soon begin. The work will include re-surfacing the junction, as well as a new carriageway layout and lighting. The Council recently received tenders from potential contractors for this phase of work.
In order for the Cardiff Road works to be carried out, a section of road will be closed on a temporary basis from July 6 for approximately 10 weeks. The closure will be from Cardiff Road’s junction with the Cwm Cynon North Industrial Estate, to just south of Usk Villas.
The existing bollards further north on Cardiff Road will be temporarily removed during the closure, allowing the carriageway to be opened up so motorists can access the alternative route. For vehicles travelling in both directions, this will be on the A4059, accessed via the junction near the Town Hall.
Access will be maintained for emergency services, but not for pedestrians.
Councillor Andrew Morgan, Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and Cabinet Member with responsibility for Highways, said: “The Mountain Ash Cross Valley Link has been a long-standing aspiration for local people – and the Council is committed to making it a reality. It will vastly improve traffic flow at Mountain Ash and along the wider A4059 corridor, which is relied upon by thousands of residents every day.
“The next part of the project will see improvement works to the Cardiff Road junction on the industrial estate – which are due to get underway during July. The Council will appoint contractors for this scheme shortly.
“This will be the first of many phases of works taking place from now until the end of this year. It will be followed by the demolition of Miskin Cottages at Miskin Road, and the demolition and rebuilding of garages at Miskin Terrace, in order to make land available for the wider scheme.
“A major upgrade to the A4059 junction will also take place, with dedicated turning lanes set to be introduced.”
