A4102 (Merthyr Tydfil)
A4102 | |||||||||||||
Location Map ( geo) | |||||||||||||
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From: | Merthyr Eastern By Pass (SO063062) | ||||||||||||
To: | Merthyr Western By Pass (SO036066) | ||||||||||||
Distance: | 2.7 miles (4.3 km) | ||||||||||||
Meets: | A4060, A4054, A470 | ||||||||||||
Former Number(s): | A465 | ||||||||||||
Highway Authorities | |||||||||||||
Traditional Counties | |||||||||||||
Route outline (key) | |||||||||||||
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For an earlier but still extant road also numbered A4102 in Amblecote in the Black Country, see A4102 (Amblecote).
The A4102 forms part of the former A465 that runs through the centre of Merthyr Tydfil. It came into existence when the Heads of the Valleys Road from Hirwaun to Brynmawr opened in 1965. Although the road runs east-west through town there is also an isolated section to the south of the town centre, giving the road a Y-shape although much of the vertical is the junior partner in a multiplex.
Route
Eastern to Western Bypass
The road starts at a roundabout on the A4060 eastern bypass and initially heads northwards then westwards after the following roundabout. This section passes through reclaimed industrial land currently seeking a new use. At the next roundabout the former line of the A465 is met and finally the road becomes residential. There's a sharp bend to the left and the road descends to a mini-roundabout. The old A470 headed left along the now-pedestrianised High Street whilst we bear right to bypass the town centre as the A465 always did.
We continue west along Bethesda Street where the now-unclassified ex-A470 bore right at traffic lights onto Brecon Road. At the next set of lights we meet the A4054 to start a multiplex with our number dominant. We cross the River Taff at a new bridge (the old A465 bridge is just to the left), then we rejoin the old road at the next set of lights which is also where the A4054 heads off to the right. The A4102 is now D2 as it climbs out of town. There's a roundabout to serve a retail park before we end on the A470 at the next roundabout.
Southern link
Heading south along the A4054 from the multiplex is a pleasant avenue alongside the river leading to a roundabout where the detached section of the A4102 appears. It heads south and crosses the river immediately. The first roundabout serves a retail park and the road ends at the second on the A470 one roundabout to the south of the "other" section of the A4102 detailed above. [[Maptrace}}