Progress report – Mountain Ash Cross Valley Link
Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Members will be updated on progress of the Mountain Ash Cross Valley Link scheme at the next Cabinet meeting.
The flagship scheme, by 2020, will see a 60-metre bridge built from Cwm Cynon Industrial Estate to Miskin Road, over the Aberdare-Cardiff railway line and River Cynon. It will provide a key link for traffic on the A4059 and B4275, relieving congestion at Mountain Ash and the wider A4059/B4275 corridor.
The project includes major improvements to Cardiff Road’s junction and the A4059/Cwm Cynon junction. A new junction on the bridge will link to B4275 Miskin Road, while key improvements at Miskin Road will also be delivered.
Councillor Andrew Morgan, Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and Cabinet Member with responsibility for Highways, said: “The Mountain Ash Cross Valley Link scheme is making excellent progress in various elements across the board – whether it’s construction on site or securing relevant planning permissions and acquiring land.
“Cabinet Members will be fully updated with the latest progress on all elements of the project at the next Cabinet meeting.
“The major work on site at the moment is at the Cardiff Road junction, with works to improve the road nearing a conclusion. Then, the attention will turn to the A4059 junction through to spring 2018. Both junctions require major improvement as they will be vital elements of the completed project.
“This flagship scheme has long been an aspiration, to improve traffic flow in and around Mountain Ash and on the wider A4059 corridor. Widespread progress being made shows the Council is working hard to make this scheme a reality. I look forward to seeing further progress made in the coming weeks.”
Cabinet members will be updated on progress at their meeting on September 19 – about elements such as planning, acquiring land, construction and funding. Here is the latest position for the key areas of the project:
Planning
A planning application for the link road and associated bridge was approved on March 16, 2017 – a major landmark for the entire scheme. An application to relocate four single garages to accommodate the project has also been approved via a delegated officer decision.
An application will be submitted to change the use of Council-owned land, which will be used to mitigate for loss of garden area to 1 Miskin Terrace.
Land
The Council owns five plots of land required to implement the project, and a further six plots are owned by third party owners. The Council will continue steps to acquire the land. There are five plots that are in unknown ownership.
Numbers 1 and 2 Miskin Cottages have now been acquired by the Council, and will be demolished in Autumn 2017.
Construction
The Council has let the tender for the design and construction of the bridge structure to Walters-Sisk, for £7.92m.
Improvement works at Cardiff Road started during July, to re-surface the junction and implement a new carriageway layout and improved street lighting. It is scheduled for completion in early autumn 2017.
The A4059 junction work is currently out to tender and construction will begin in autumn 2017, and will be completed in spring 2018.
The Council will seek tenders for the construction of four new garages, and the demolition of four existing garages at Miskin Terrace. Works are anticipated to start in autumn 2017 and be completed in winter 2017/18.
Funding
To date, £7.551m has been allocated to the overall scheme 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.
Ongoing liaison with the Welsh Government will ensure any further funding opportunities in 2017/18 are explored. Further bids will be submitted to the Welsh Government for appropriate transport grants during 2018/19.
