Mountain Ash Southern Cross Valley Link to open on Friday
The Council has today announced that the Mountain Ash Cross Valley Link will open on Friday, October 16, following the completion of the major construction process by contractor Walters-Sisk.
The completion of the major scheme will see the Council delivering on a commitment made to residents in early 2017, providing a new link between the A4059 and B4275 which will improve traffic flow in and around Mountain Ash and the wider A4059 arterial route. The project has been progressed over four phases, with the first of these starting on Cardiff Road in October 2017.
The Council will open the Cross Valley Link to motorists and pedestrians on Friday, October 16. The Council will confirm arrangements when this has happened on social media – expected to be early afternoon.
Road users are reminded that the traffic lights at the bridge’s junction with Miskin Road will be switched on for the first time to enable the opening of the road – please be aware of this change.
Our contractor will continue work on site, in the areas around the bridge, in the coming weeks. The existing lights at the Mountain Ash town hall junction will be modified several times over the coming weeks as they adjust to the new traffic patterns.
Councillor Andrew Morgan, Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and Cabinet Member with responsibility for Highways and Transportation, said: “I can confirm today that the Mountain Ash Cross Valley Link will open this Friday, with this major highway scheme providing an improvement to the long-standing traffic issues around Mountain Ash and the wider A4059 Cynon Valley corridor, particularly at peak travel times each day.
“It shows the Council’s commitment to investing in our transport network as a priority, and is one of a number of the similar schemes we plan to deliver in the coming years – including the Llanharan Bypass, the A4059 dualling from Coed Ely to Ynysmaerdy, and Cynon Valley Gateway North (Aberdare Bypass extension).
“Our contractor Walters-Sisk have some work to do throughout Friday with the configuration of the traffic lights to allow the bridge to open. The Council will update residents on Friday when this has been completed and they are free to use the bridge. This is anticipated to be during the early afternoon, so the new system isn’t being introduced during the busiest travel periods.”
Please note, the community naming process for the bridge has been delayed due to the Coronavirus pandemic. In an initial exercise in March and April 2020, around 140 entries met the specified brief – to put forward a name that recognises the history of the area, local individuals of significance, local events/historical significance or to reflect the wider culture of Mountain Ash.
The entries will be reduced to a final shortlist of three names by an independent panel made up of Council representatives and a local historian – before the public is asked to vote for their choice. The panel will meet as soon as possible when circumstances allow due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
