Town’s famous Big Arch to be restored next year
THE 200-year-old Big Arch in Ebbw Vale is set to be restored in 2022, after approval from Blaenau Gwent council and the Welsh Government’s historic environment service, Cadw.
Constructed in 1813, the Big Arch is one of the largest early horse-drawn railway bridges in Britain and symbolises the town’s place in the history of iron and steel making in Wales.
Work will begin on January 4, 2022, and is expected to take around six months to complete, during which time the A4281 road beneath Big Arch will be closed.
The upper road leading to Newtown will be unaffected by the works, remaining open at all times.
Big Arch was once the northern gateway to the Ebbw Vale ironworks and in later years to the sprawling Ebbw Vale steelworks. It is now one of the few surviving reminders of the area’s industrial past.
The extensive refurbishment on the landmark will include improvements such as waterproofing and stabilising the masonry arch barrel, removing excess vegetation from the structure, and undertaking masonry repairs to the upper arches.
Clive Rogers is the head of community services and said despite damage to the fabric of the arch the structure is still in a reasonable condition ahead of the repairs.
He said: “The 200-year-old structure is in reasonable condition for its age, however the masonry arch barrel has areas of structural concern that have been caused by the continuous passage of water through the structure over the years. As a result, significant damage has been done to the fabric of the arch with the stonework face delaminating and the mortar joints being washed out.
“When we identified these issues some years ago our engineering department worked swiftly to install a temporary crash to protect the highway user and to enable the road to remain open. This has not been a particularly attractive structure, but public safety is always our numberone priority.
“During this time, our engineers have been working closely with Cadw to devise and agree a technical solution that will ensure the integrity of the bridge and preserve the heritage of this listed structure for generations to come.”
Councillor Joanna Wilkins, executive member for environment, said: “I am delighted that Cadw has accepted our engineering department’s proposals to resolve the significant technical problem Big Arch presented and is testament to the commitment of the work that has been under way for many years.
“I’m very much looking forward to seeing the end result of these important works and seeing Big Arch restored to its former glory.
“Ensuring our infrastructure is fit for purpose is essential to our county borough’s ability to operate effectively, for our business, residents, and visitors.”