Traffic monitoring to inform future Aberdare Bypass extension
The Council has begun a traffic monitoring exercise in the north of the Cynon Valley, to inform a future scheme which will extend the Aberdare Bypass and link the A4059 to the A465 Heads of the Valley Road.
In October 2018, Cabinet Members supported Welsh Government’s plan to dual a 17.7km stretch of the A465, from Hirwaun to Dowlais Top, by 2022. The scheme is included within the Council’s Local Development Plan, and will include an additional junction on the A465, located at Croesbychan.
The new junction will facilitate the Council’s own future Highways scheme – the Cynon Valley Gateway North. This is a major, multi-million-pound project to be delivered in the future – to construct and develop an extension of the A4059 Aberdare Bypass, east of Penywaun, which will meet the A465 at Croesbychan. Cabinet allocated £1m to this scheme in October 2018.
In order to inform the next design stages of the Cynon Valley Gateway North, the Council is undertaking traffic monitoring along the Aberdare Bypass and Heads of the Valley Road – from Monday, July 8, for around two weeks.
During this period, road-side equipment will be utilised to capture traffic flow patterns on the road network, which is not expected to cause any disruption.
Councillor Andrew Morgan, Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and Cabinet Member with responsibility for Highways, said: “Cabinet last year supported Welsh Government’s plans to deliver the final stage of dualling on the A465, from Hirwaun to Dowlais Top – to improve road capacity, increase traffic flows and reduce journey times. This is an important scheme to improve connectivity from Rhondda Cynon Taf to West Wales and the Midlands.
“Included in the dualling scheme is the development of a new junction on the A465 at Croesbychan – which is a vital component of the Council’s future Aberdare Bypass extension. This will create a new link between the A4059 and A465, to improve the way traffic can enter the north of the Cynon Valley, with the potential to vastly improve accessibility. This project has Welsh Government support, and was allocated £1m by Cabinet last year.
“During September 2017, five Strategic Opportunity Areas in Rhondda Cynon Taf were outlined by Cabinet for their potential for economic growth and job creation. The Cynon Gateway was one of these areas – with the A465 dualling scheme and the Cynon Valley Gateway North both recognised as key infrastructure projects to achieve our wider economic goals for the region.
“From July 8, motorists will see road-side equipment which the Council is using to measure current traffic flows – and the information being collected will be used in the design process for the A4059 extension. The work will last around two weeks and is not expected to cause any disruption to commuters.”
