Damaged road to be repaired this summer
A MAJOR road connecting Rhondda and Cynon Valley is finally set to be fixed this summer – 18 months after a landslip took place.
The A4233, which connects Aberdare in the Cynon Valley with the village of Maerdy in Rhondda, was damaged on December 31, 2015, following a sustained period of rain.
In January 2016, further wet weather caused the damaged area to grow, leaving a 150-metre stretch of road at risk.
The damage came at the hairpins on Aberdare’s end of the road, and temporary traffic lights have been in place ever since.
Rhondda Cynon Taf council says the road needs a £1.7m repair job and – with consent expected to be gained by cabinet members shortly – significant engineering works will be undertaken, along with improvements to the entire mountain road.
The road will be resurfaced and re-marked, with cats eyes being renewed and repairs made to dry-stone walls where necessary.
Works, including drainage, are expected to start in June, when temporary traffic lights currently at the site will remain.
A full road closure will then be put in place dur- ing the school’s summer holidays. Andrew Morgan, leader of RCT council and cabinet member responsible for highways, said: “In order to fully repair Maerdy Mountain and to future-proof it as far as possible, a significant investment of approximately £1.7m will be required.
“Given how important this road is, it is a priority to get it fully-repaired.
“The landslip was caused by issues with surface and ground water on the mountain during a period of prolonged and heavy rainfall.
“To prevent this happening we aim to install an extensive new drainage system and carry out ground stabilisation works on the mountain- side. Carrying out the works during the summer holidays allows the necessary time for this, with this period also being the quietest time in terms of cars on the road, meaning the least amount of disruption will be caused.
“Clearly a full road closure on Maerdy Mountain will have an impact on motorists but, as with the works which benefited Rhigos Mountain Road during summer 2016, we will work to minimise disruption and keep residents and motorists fullyinformed and updated.”
The council will issue further information before the works get under way in June.