Completed Dec. 2021: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Rd Dualling: Gilwern To Brynmawr

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AAndy
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Completed Dec. 2021: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Rd Dualling: Gilwern To Brynmawr

Post by AAndy »

The original thread has been locked.

However, I am sure there are some members here who will be interested to learn the completion date is going to b e missed, even though there are signs up telling of its completion next month.

See: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-50376679
Last edited by AAndy on Sun Dec 05, 2021 16:12, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Rd Dualling: Gilwern To Brynmawr

Post by Bryn666 »

The curse of the Clydach gorge strikes again...
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Rd Dualling: Gilwern To Brynmawr

Post by Hdeng16 »

The only real problem was the unrealistic time frame given. You only have to take a drive through the gorge to realise this is no ordinary road build.
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Rd Dualling: Gilwern To Brynmawr

Post by IAN »

From the report - 'The final phase of the work between Dowlais Top in Merthyr Tydfil and Hirwaun in Rhondda Cynon Taff has not yet started and is due for completion by 2023'.

Originally all the sections were due to be completed by 2020! assuming the final section starts in 2020 (unlikely) do they really think they'll get that built in 3 years when it's another very challenging project. The likelihood is that it'll be approaching 2030 before the whole project is finished!

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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Rd Dualling: Gilwern To Brynmawr

Post by DB617 »

Hdeng16 wrote: Tue Nov 12, 2019 09:27 The only real problem was the unrealistic time frame given. You only have to take a drive through the gorge to realise this is no ordinary road build.
Exactly. And if they had paid attention to history the Welsh Government and SWTRA would have known that not all would be straightforward or go to plan, as the original road was also marred with construction issues. But forward rational thinking is very rare around these parts...

I can't help wondering, though, whether Dowlais to Hirwaun would have been kicked into the long grass for years if the trunk road fund had gone into the M4.
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Rd Dualling: Gilwern To Brynmawr

Post by Berk »

DB617 wrote: Tue Nov 12, 2019 13:12
Hdeng16 wrote: Tue Nov 12, 2019 09:27 The only real problem was the unrealistic time frame given. You only have to take a drive through the gorge to realise this is no ordinary road build.
Exactly. And if they had paid attention to history the Welsh Government and SWTRA would have known that not all would be straightforward or go to plan, as the original road was also marred with construction issues. But forward rational thinking is very rare around these parts...
I note that the original route in the 60s also took 6 years to build. Surely it’s not the road that’s the problem, but the terrain. How could you build houses on it without similar problems??
I can't help wondering, though, whether Dowlais to Hirwaun would have been kicked into the long grass for years if the trunk road fund had gone into the M4.
At least that’s one area where Drakeford had a rational line of argument. That’s basically what would have happened.
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Rd Dualling: Gilwern To Brynmawr

Post by roadtester »

More delays and cost over-runs on the Heads of the Valleys:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-51211915#
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Rd Dualling: Gilwern To Brynmawr

Post by AAndy »

Still plenty to do but the Brynmawr gsj is much nearer completion. I've put some videos up here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... NSsaJapJJm .
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Rd Dualling: Gilwern To Brynmawr

Post by c2R »

Drove through the other night coming off the ferry - while it does seem like roadworks have been ongoing forever on the road, there is definite progress from when I last went through before Christmas.
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Rd Dualling: Gilwern To Brynmawr

Post by DB617 »

c2R wrote: Fri Oct 09, 2020 16:54 Drove through the other night coming off the ferry - while it does seem like roadworks have been ongoing forever on the road, there is definite progress from when I last went through before Christmas.
Costain was definitely hit hard by COVID restrictions back when nobody was allowed to work. Even when it restarted there was barely anybody on site. And they had already encountered enough delays. Even so, I was impressed when I came up at the end of lockdown and saw the progress. I love huge scale schemes like this. Can't wait for the Dowlais-Hirwaun section and the A417 to get going.
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Rd Dualling: Gilwern To Brynmawr

Post by Big L »

Drove through yesterday evening eastbound. Nice to whizz (40) past the Brynmawr roundabout on the new alignment.
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Rd Dualling: Gilwern To Brynmawr

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DB617 wrote: Fri Oct 09, 2020 18:52
c2R wrote: Fri Oct 09, 2020 16:54 Drove through the other night coming off the ferry - while it does seem like roadworks have been ongoing forever on the road, there is definite progress from when I last went through before Christmas.
Costain was definitely hit hard by COVID restrictions back when nobody was allowed to work. Even when it restarted there was barely anybody on site. And they had already encountered enough delays. Even so, I was impressed when I came up at the end of lockdown and saw the progress. I love huge scale schemes like this. Can't wait for the Dowlais-Hirwaun section and the A417 to get going.
Were there different rules in Wales, they carried on working on the M4 Smart Motorway scheme, right the way through
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Rd Dualling: Gilwern To Brynmawr

Post by DB617 »

A303Chris wrote: Tue Nov 03, 2020 13:45
DB617 wrote: Fri Oct 09, 2020 18:52
c2R wrote: Fri Oct 09, 2020 16:54 Drove through the other night coming off the ferry - while it does seem like roadworks have been ongoing forever on the road, there is definite progress from when I last went through before Christmas.
Costain was definitely hit hard by COVID restrictions back when nobody was allowed to work. Even when it restarted there was barely anybody on site. And they had already encountered enough delays. Even so, I was impressed when I came up at the end of lockdown and saw the progress. I love huge scale schemes like this. Can't wait for the Dowlais-Hirwaun section and the A417 to get going.
Were there different rules in Wales, they carried on working on the M4 Smart Motorway scheme, right the way through
I'm not really sure. I remember them announcing at some point into the lockdown that 'works were restarting under COVID guidelines.' It's possible that the Trunk Road Agent was the one that dictated work must stop until risk assessments etc were done.
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Rd Dualling: Gilwern To Brynmawr

Post by AAndy »

Recent Video going up the Gorge: https://youtu.be/yee7fRcoQlA

6 minutes in is a difficult section still to be bridged.
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Rd Dualling: Gilwern To Brynmawr

Post by Herned »

AAndy wrote: Thu Jan 28, 2021 17:03 Recent Video going up the Gorge: https://youtu.be/yee7fRcoQlA

6 minutes in is a difficult section still to be bridged.
Thanks for sharing. Moved on a lot since the last video I saw. Strange they haven't opened any of the section as two lanes, especially eastbound
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Rd Dualling: Gilwern To Brynmawr

Post by DB617 »

Herned wrote: Thu Jan 28, 2021 22:45
AAndy wrote: Thu Jan 28, 2021 17:03 Recent Video going up the Gorge: https://youtu.be/yee7fRcoQlA

6 minutes in is a difficult section still to be bridged.
Thanks for sharing. Moved on a lot since the last video I saw. Strange they haven't opened any of the section as two lanes, especially eastbound
I guess it gives them more room for works traffic, finishing, surveying etc plus allowing overtaking on a congested 40mph SPECS section might be of questionable value.
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Rd Dualling: Gilwern To Brynmawr

Post by Big L »

It would be nice if they took the 40 limit off the final eastbound mile-or-so which is 2 lanes and completely clear except for speed limit signs and cameras.

Otherwise, a great job so far through difficult terrain.
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Rd Dualling: Gilwern To Brynmawr

Post by c2R »

Minor order adjusting junction arrangements, mostly: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/wsi/2021 ... tents/made
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Rd Dualling: Gilwern To Brynmawr

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Herned wrote: Thu Jan 28, 2021 22:45
AAndy wrote: Thu Jan 28, 2021 17:03 Recent Video going up the Gorge: https://youtu.be/yee7fRcoQlA

6 minutes in is a difficult section still to be bridged.
Thanks for sharing. Moved on a lot since the last video I saw. Strange they haven't opened any of the section as two lanes, especially eastbound
Great video, and there does seem to be a lot work to be done at the missing bridge.

After that missing bridge and it is hard to tell, is the westbound carriageway a lot lower than the eastbound carriageway, or hasn't it been built yet.

I also notice at the started that the "Average Speed Camera" signs are large permanent ones, and there are a lot of yellow poles are missing cameras. Are they going to SPEC enforce the new road, can sort of see why, it does seem tight in places.

Also when is it due to be completed, I thought it was meant to be done by now.
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Rd Dualling: Gilwern To Brynmawr

Post by Bryn666 »

A303Chris wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 14:01
Herned wrote: Thu Jan 28, 2021 22:45
AAndy wrote: Thu Jan 28, 2021 17:03 Recent Video going up the Gorge: https://youtu.be/yee7fRcoQlA

6 minutes in is a difficult section still to be bridged.
Thanks for sharing. Moved on a lot since the last video I saw. Strange they haven't opened any of the section as two lanes, especially eastbound
Great video, and there does seem to be a lot work to be done at the missing bridge.

After that missing bridge and it is hard to tell, is the westbound carriageway a lot lower than the eastbound carriageway, or hasn't it been built yet.

I also notice at the started that the "Average Speed Camera" signs are large permanent ones, and there are a lot of yellow poles are missing cameras. Are they going to SPEC enforce the new road, can sort of see why, it does seem tight in places.

Also when is it due to be completed, I thought it was meant to be done by now.
It'll be SPECS enforced 50 due to restricted forward sightlines in several places and also because of the gradients I presume. It's massively delayed because the Clydach gorge is cursed and that was before the pandemic hit.
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