How our valley is changing...
Dramatic new pictures show scale of work completed on new link road:
AN extra £500,000 is being pumped into the Mountain Ash Cross Valley link road, it’s been announced.
It takes the total investment up to £9m as officials welcome a new, “exciting year” for the scheme.
Rhondda Cynon Taf Council announced the injection made by the Welsh Government on Monday, as well as releasing new images that show the scale of work undertaken so far.
The overall scheme will see a 60m bridge built from Cwm Cynon Industrial Estate to Miskin Road, providing a link for traffic between the A4059 and B4275.
And RCT Council said construction of the Cross Valley Link road itself is on course to begin in Summer 2018, while the overall project is due for completion by 2020.
The £500,000 investment from its local transport fund means so far, the Welsh Government has pumped £4m into the scheme, with the remaining £5m coming from the council.
Council leader Andrew Morgan said: “The council’s announcement that another £500,000 has been secured for this important scheme is excellent news to start the new year, which promises to see th e Cross Valley Link rapidly develop on a month-by-month basis.
“The Welsh Government has now invested more than £4m in the Cross Valley Link, reflecting the importance of this local transport scheme. It will improve traffic in and around Mountain Ash, and along the wider A4059 Cynon Valley corridor, on which hundreds of commuters rely upon every day.
“The council’s own investment of nearly £5m is indicative of its major funding for highways as a key area in the wider £200m #RCTinvest scheme. The council will also continue to seek external investment, where possible, to help fund such projects for the benefit of the county borough’s residents and visitors.”
The news comes after 2017 saw major works begin on site in three areas Miskin Road, Cardiff Road and the A4059 junction.
Works to the A4059 Cwm Cynon Industrial Estate junction began in October, which will widen the A4059 carriageway where it meets the industrial estate, creating new lanes.
They followed junction improvements at Cardiff Road being completed in October, which included a new road layout, re-surfacing works and the installation of new lighting.
Meanwhile, at Miskin Road, the demolition of two cottages and adjacent garages, as well as accommodation works, was finished in November.
Coun Morgan added: “I’m looking forward to seeing the progress made in the coming months – with the major A4059 junction works now well underway.
“That will be followed by construction of the main bridge structure during the summer – as residents will be able to see the whole site evolve as more and more progress is made.”