Maerdy Mountain Road – temporary bus arrangements
Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has finalised arrangements with bus operator Stagecoach for the operation of the 172 service between Aberdare and Porthcawl during the closure of Maerdy Mountain Road.
Journeys on service 172 will continue to operate between Maerdy and Porthcawl, with some timing changes. These temporary changes will come into effect from Monday, July 10.
A shuttle service numbered 172C will operate to and from Aberdare Bus Station, connecting with the 172 service at Tonypandy Bus Station for journeys to and from Tonyrefail, Bridgend and Porthcawl, and Penrhys, Ferndale and Maerdy.
Departures from Aberdare Bus Station will be earlier and journey times will be increased. Both the 172 and 172C services, in both directions, will wait at Tonypandy Bus Station to ensure that all connections are made.
Ticketing arrangements are in place to ensure customers will continue to pay the normal fares for the route.
The Council will carry out essential landslip stabilisation works on the road from July 10, requiring a full road closure for 24 hours-a-day. The route is scheduled to re-open during September.
Taking advantage of the closure, wider improvements will be made with a significant investment through #RCTinvest. These include re-surfacing the road, repair and replacement of dry stone retaining walls and drainage works.
As a result of a successful bid for Welsh Government Road Safety Funding Grant, the scheme will also include a range of improvements to the safety of the route such as hazard markings, road re-marking and new reflective roadstuds.
Councillor Andrew Morgan, Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and Cabinet Member with responsibility for Highways, said: “The works at Maerdy Mountain Road are essential following the landslip in December 2015, and a full road closure is necessary due to large machinery being required to carry out the works. The Council has also chosen to carry out further significant improvements to the carriageway through #RCTinvest.
“The Council has worked closely with Stagecoach to ensure people who rely upon the 172 service can still access it during the Maerdy Mountain Road works. A shuttle bus from Aberdare will make connections at Tonypandy.
“The temporary 172 and the connecting 172C bus timetables will last for the duration of the works and can now be viewed online.”
For more information on the temporary service call the Council’s Integrated Transport Unit on 01443 425001, or public transport information service Traveline Cymru on 0800 464 0000.
The temporary timetable for the duration of the works is now available online by visiting https://www.traveline.cymru/disruptions/698/.
