A465 Heads Of The Valleys Dualling; Dowlais Top To Hirwaun

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thegadgetlad
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Dualling; Dowlais Top To Hirwaun

Post by thegadgetlad »

The new temporary footbridge was installed at Cefn Coed this weekend. It's not yet open for pedestrians, they'll be putting in services underneath the bridge before the old High Street bridge is demolished.
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AAndy
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Dualling; Dowlais Top To Hirwaun

Post by AAndy »

thegadgetlad wrote: Sun Mar 27, 2022 15:09 The new temporary footbridge was installed at Cefn Coed this weekend. It's not yet open for pedestrians, they'll be putting in services underneath the bridge before the old High Street bridge is demolished. 1648308877420.jpg1648308879490.jpg
Excellent photos :)

A Easter bank holiday video heading from Hirwaun as far as the A470 at Merthyr: https://youtu.be/jNF6mDzuFGY
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AAndy
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Dualling; Dowlais Top To Hirwaun

Post by AAndy »

I have also uploaded a rear facing video of the same journey. HOWEVER, I forgot to dub the track so there is wind noise. https://youtu.be/ulE6W0aRD6I
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AAndy
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Dualling; Dowlais Top To Hirwaun

Post by AAndy »

These are decent videos I rekon , taken this weekend. All the way from Dowlais top to Hirwaun. This one is front view : https://youtu.be/SS_eDozIlW4 . I approach from Brecon on the A470 , turn left up to Dowlais Top, on the way up there is a glimpse of a cutting being blasted out of the rock on the left before the industrial estate , better seen from the side video, around the temporary roundabout at the top, check out the signage! , then on along the A465 to the first exit( for Rhymney) then back to Dowlais top just to see the workings underway for the massive GSJ. Another drive around the temp roundabout and up to the Asda roundabout before heading West along the A465. Of interest is another cutting, on the left just past the prince charles hospital. I turn right just to have another look at those piers, avoiding a head on with a bmw and then on to Hirwaun.

The other video is a nearside view one, here: https://youtu.be/MT2kXngZtzQ . It is edited so most of the vegetation views are gone but have a look, particularly the first minute with a most excellent view of the viaduct piers in construction.
Last edited by AAndy on Tue Nov 15, 2022 19:16, edited 1 time in total.
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jeremai
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Dualling; Dowlais Top To Hirwaun

Post by jeremai »

Excellent videos as usual, Andy. Lots of good progress visible now.
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Dualling; Dowlais Top To Hirwaun

Post by Octaviadriver »

Yes, they are great videos.

I was there on Sunday and walked along the Taff Trail as far as the start of the Cefn Coed viaduct from the south. It was sunny, but there was a strong chilly wind and as I'm trying to get rid of a cold that I've had for a week, I didn't go any further where I could take some photos as the viaduct is very exposed. The rest of the Taff Trail between the trees was sheltered from the wind.
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Dualling; Dowlais Top To Hirwaun

Post by AAndy »

Thanks Jeremai and Octaviadriver. There is a lot of road construction to see now.....and also some spectacular views hidden before .

Looking at it now I think a long viaduct from near dowlais top to near the B4276, spanning those 3 'gorges' might have been a better option, with less local impact.
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AAndy
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Dualling; Dowlais Top To Hirwaun

Post by AAndy »

latest video here https://youtu.be/z_LFEgeeAP8 from Dowlais top to Hirwaun, with a short doubling back at A470 to have a 2nd look at the bridge works.
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Dualling; Dowlais Top To Hirwaun

Post by Octaviadriver »

Thanks AAndy, a great video as always.

I was there on the Taff Trail a couple of weeks ago, but forgot about the photos I'd taken. My old brain is getting more like a sieve every day!

I noticed that they'd started work on the bridge to the east of the old railway bridge and here's a photo showing the start of the piers that you can't see from the road.
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There was a footpath going under the bridge that you can see on the old streetview. I don't know if this'll be reinstated.
https://goo.gl/maps/saH6aq1BscWh9XkH7
The entrance from Taff Trail has been fenced off for some time.
IMG_20220523_115210009_HDR-001.jpg
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Dualling; Dowlais Top To Hirwaun

Post by Chris5156 »

Octaviadriver wrote: Sun Jun 05, 2022 10:22I noticed that they'd started work on the bridge to the east of the old railway bridge and here's a photo showing the start of the piers that you can't see from the road.
Taf Fechan bridge, which has been all but impossible to see for many years now. It’s a beautiful structure and I doubt the new one that’ll appear alongside it will be half as pleasing to look at.
There was a footpath going under the bridge that you can see on the old streetview. I don't know if this'll be reinstated.
It was built for walking access to a local school, and there were protests about it at the opening ceremony for this bit of the Heads of the Valleys. I wonder if people feel as strongly about it today.
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Dualling; Dowlais Top To Hirwaun

Post by Octaviadriver »

Chris5156 wrote: Sun Jun 05, 2022 12:59
Octaviadriver wrote: Sun Jun 05, 2022 10:22I noticed that they'd started work on the bridge to the east of the old railway bridge and here's a photo showing the start of the piers that you can't see from the road.
Taf Fechan bridge, which has been all but impossible to see for many years now. It’s a beautiful structure and I doubt the new one that’ll appear alongside it will be half as pleasing to look at.
There was a footpath going under the bridge that you can see on the old streetview. I don't know if this'll be reinstated.
It was built for walking access to a local school, and there were protests about it at the opening ceremony for this bit of the Heads of the Valleys. I wonder if people feel as strongly about it today.
Thank you Chris5156 for the interesting information.

I doubt if there'll be many protests today about the footpath for schoolchildren as I'm sure most of them are driven to school nowadays. Of course, the school in question may not be open now anyway.
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AAndy
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Dualling; Dowlais Top To Hirwaun

Post by AAndy »

August videos.

Westbound: https://youtu.be/JXV0jZki84Y

Eastbound: https://youtu.be/8qGpocJXY-k

Aberdare A4059 road shut, looks like for a while whilst they build a new link road.

New tarmac laid on new course just after Dynevor Arms, 8m8secs into westbound. looks like the first major rerouting of the current road imminent.

A470 Brecon road slightly rerouted.
Last edited by AAndy on Wed Sep 14, 2022 19:07, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Dualling; Dowlais Top To Hirwaun

Post by AAndy »

Photo looking at the Aberdare roundabout approach at Hirwaun.
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AAndy
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Dualling; Dowlais Top To Hirwaun

Post by AAndy »

I've now added a video just on the Taf fawr viaduct, which includes the A470 roundabout and GSJ consturction. Front view like in the other video but then side views follow on.

see: https://youtu.be/TQ8Mg0Ategw
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AAndy
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Dualling; Dowlais Top To Hirwaun

Post by AAndy »

New video here: https://youtu.be/SmUVrtylIIY .
Taken a few days ago.

2 brand new sections of carriageway/alignment to see, after 19 mins 30 secs.
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Dualling; Dowlais Top To Hirwaun

Post by Hdeng16 »

They look pretty temporary to me. Also they also appear on google maps if you’re interested in working out exactly where they are.

I’m not keen on that contraflow at dowlais top - the markings are still visible, no cones, and pretty narrow
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AAndy
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Dualling; Dowlais Top To Hirwaun

Post by AAndy »

Hdeng16 wrote: Thu Sep 15, 2022 07:29 They look pretty temporary to me. Also they also appear on google maps if you’re interested in working out exactly where they are.

I’m not keen on that contraflow at dowlais top - the markings are still visible, no cones, and pretty narrow
Temporary? I dont know, I do know they are 2 new sections of road / alignment on virgin ground :D + To see there is a brand new (temp) roundabout I failed to mention, well 2 if you include the one you see briefly on the A470 towards Brecon
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AAndy
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Dualling; Dowlais Top To Hirwaun

Post by AAndy »

Another drive along video just taken.... https://youtu.be/txFtlkGpD-g

Progress is visible almost the whole length though the most obvious is at 18mins and 5 secs where you can see the course of a new road around the back of the industrial units that I think links back up with the existing course at 20:20secs.
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Dualling; Dowlais Top To Hirwaun

Post by Bryn666 »

Chris5156 wrote: Sun Jun 05, 2022 12:59
Octaviadriver wrote: Sun Jun 05, 2022 10:22I noticed that they'd started work on the bridge to the east of the old railway bridge and here's a photo showing the start of the piers that you can't see from the road.
Taf Fechan bridge, which has been all but impossible to see for many years now. It’s a beautiful structure and I doubt the new one that’ll appear alongside it will be half as pleasing to look at.
There was a footpath going under the bridge that you can see on the old streetview. I don't know if this'll be reinstated.
It was built for walking access to a local school, and there were protests about it at the opening ceremony for this bit of the Heads of the Valleys. I wonder if people feel as strongly about it today.
The bridge alongside the M6 Lune Bridge (similar arch) is certainly boring in comparison and has ruined the once clean lines the old bridge created but hey ho. The same will happen here, but as no one's been able to see it for decades probably less of a visual loss, but one that's irritating regardless.
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AAndy
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Dualling; Dowlais Top To Hirwaun

Post by AAndy »

side view, from hirwaun to just past the a470 here: https://youtu.be/dseRyyceB6E
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