A465 Heads Of The Valleys Dualling; Dowlais Top To Hirwaun

[Big L]

I came over the hill from Brecon via Penderyn a couple of weeks ago, heading towards Swansea. The junction with the H-o-t-V is much more 3-dimensional than it was last time I saw it.

[AAndy]

I came over the hill from Brecon via Penderyn a couple of weeks ago, heading towards Swansea. The junction with the H-o-t-V is much more 3-dimensional than it was last time I saw it.

That one and several other GSJ's have too, including the ASDA one at Dowlais Top.

July 23 update Video here: https://youtu.be/vShVZ2697ZY

A lot of progress since my last video. West and east embankments nearly completed at Dowlais with final Tarmac on the West side. Cefn Coed span #1 of 3 joined up. Crem gsj slip and roundabout driven on.
A few pics taken from the above video:

[AAndy]

a couple more screen shots.

[Ishtaria1980]

a couple more screen shots.

Bloody love this. They certainly know how to build decent new roads over in Wales I'll give them that. Was over in South Wales for the first time in years the other day, on the A472 that I often used to take. I love how they can shoehorn in dual carriageways wherever the hell they want, even if the capacity for it isn't strictly necessary.

[coneman]

a couple more screen shots.

Excellent pics there Andy and regards the second pic that scaffolding is more akin to a work of art as opposed to a safe working platform for the workforce.

[DB617]

a couple more screen shots.

Bloody love this. They certainly know how to build decent new roads over in Wales I'll give them that. Was over in South Wales for the first time in years the other day, on the A472 that I often used to take. I love how they can shoehorn in dual carriageways wherever the hell they want, even if the capacity for it isn't strictly necessary.

Agreed, although they obviously don't like building them much anymore. West Wales in particular is full of gems like the A477 and I can't wait to see their latest take on S2+1 when the Llandewi Felfri bypass opens.

The progress on the 465 now is astonishing compared to that on the Brynmawr section, unsurprisingly given the lack of a gorge to go through - but after years of glacial progress, it's still a culture shock!

[AAndy]

Eastbound video here: https://youtu.be/zoHD0kvbi5k

The excavations to realign the A470 North of Cefn Coed are in full swing with massive embankments and lowering of the existing carriageway so I've included a drive to the NSL out of the roadworks northbound on the A470 and back in.

Also worth a look on this video , during the queue for the dowlais top roundabout the rerouting onto the new carriageway for a few 100m with the tarmac being layed as I pass on the embankment of the flyover of the GSJ.

[AAndy]

Just a few more stills from last week,

A470 embankment and the top of the viaduct at cefn coed

[AAndy]

A lot has progressed in 2 weeks so worth another video.

The bridge spans ready on the new carriageway for the Dowlais GSJ . Cefn coed y cymmer A4054 bridge in situ and a lot more digging underneath. Hirwaun GSJ bridge spans now in-situ.

+ cefn coed viaduct , 1 span now joining land at both ends.

see: https://youtu.be/ahx3dlLAIcY

[AAndy]

some stills:

[AAndy]

Here's a cobbled together side view video update, showing, Dowlais Top GSJ and awaiting bridge spans, around Cefn Coed y Cymmer, Nant Melon and nearby railway & river crossing, Aberdare bridges yet to be excavated & Hirwaun GSJ bridge.

video: https://youtu.be/RFHZYmXEvE0

[AAndy]

I've put a new video up heading East, approaching via the A465 so the new Hirwaun GSJ carriageway alignment is clearly visible at the start. see https://youtu.be/tPzD-2HiIHE

[B1040]

Has the Aberdare turn really been closed for more than a year?
That must affect a lot of people.
We visited a friend there a week ago.
Bit of a fiddle getting to her and no advance warning of alternatives.

[AAndy]

Has the Aberdare turn really been closed for more than a year?
That must affect a lot of people.
We visited a friend there a week ago.
Bit of a fiddle getting to her and no advance warning of alternatives.

It has been closed a few times for a day or so at a time but it is there on the video , its off the mini roundabout at 3 minutes & 9 secs in.

[SteveA30]

The new A465 is coming on and will be one of the best roads in Britain when finished, from A40 to M4. Great views opened up, unless they plant so many trees that the views disappear eventually. Will need some central services though as they are only at both ends, Abergavenny and Glyn Neath. The isolated garage at Dowlais Top will need to be expanded.

[SteveA30]

More A465 construction, heading east. We kept leaving and rejoining the old S2/1. At the moment, there seem to be 14 rbts e/bnd and 16 w/bnd, from Hirwaun to Dowlais Top. Still, no pain no gain as they say....

[SteveA30]

So to the newest open section from Brynmawr to Gilwern. Later, M49 blanked off motorway signs, a rare sight. No work going on. When are the developers going to honour their part of the deal?

[DB617]

Last I heard, South Gloucestershire County Council intends to issue a CPO as the land owners want nothing to do with the road. I assume the narrow strip of land was being used as some kind of land bank, as they are rife in the Avon valley for some reason and the combined councils appear to be in somewhat of a crackdown with Bristol CPOing lots of run-down land banks for the public good. Rare to see.

[Chris Bertram]

Last I heard, South Gloucestershire County Council intends to issue a CPO as the land owners want nothing to do with the road. I assume the narrow strip of land was being used as some kind of land bank, as they are rife in the Avon valley for some reason and the combined councils appear to be in somewhat of a crackdown with Bristol CPOing lots of run-down land banks for the public good. Rare to see.

Wrong thread?

[Octaviadriver]

The new A465 is coming on and will be one of the best roads in Britain when finished, from A40 to M4. Great views opened up, unless they plant so many trees that the views disappear eventually. Will need some central services though as they are only at both ends, Abergavenny and Glyn Neath.

If you turn south on the A470 at Merthyr Tydfil, I can recommend Trago Mills, which is 1½ miles/3 minutes away, is very easily accessed with free parking and has a good choice of refreshments and meals and the toilets are always clean and tidy.

I'm sure it's the same all over the country where if you're local, you'll know somewhere to stop for a break where none's visible from the main road.