Council hopes town bridge can open ‘soon’

YNYSANGHARAD Park Bridge, known locally in Pontypridd as the Marks & Spencer bridge, is still not able to re-open.

The bridge, which connects Pontypridd town centre to Ynysangharad War Memorial Park, has been closed for just over a year after damage when Storm Dennis battered parts of Wales back in February 2020.

It was estimated the bridge would be open to the public again this February but it remains shut.

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has confirmed that even though a lot of work has been carried out at the site, and the bridge has been lifted back into place, there has been a delay in completing the final stage of the project.

The council insisted it is doing all it can to make sure the bridge is brought back into use as soon as possible. Officials say the re-opening date will be confirmed “soon”, although no timescale or further information has been given.

A spokesperson for Rhondda Cynon Taf Council said: “The significant repair scheme to the bridge has generally made good progress to date, with repairs successfully being carried out within Ynysangharad Park and the structure lifted back into position in the New Year.

“There is a small delay in the final stages of the project, in relation to a delivery of an integral component being received by the works site.

“The council and its contractor are working hard to resolve this quickly, in order to finalise opening arrangements very soon. The work is expected to be completed this month.”

Since January other sections of the park have been closed off due to other improvements being made at Ynysangharad Park.

Work has begun to make “significant improvements” at the park with the help of Valleys Regional Park funding. The £885,000 is being used to help renew the main footways and smaller paths across the park, along with the installation of improved LED streetlighting.

The funding will also be used to create a new changing place provision at the National Lido of Wales, Lido Ponty.