Landslide at Pontsarn in Merthyr Tydfil threatens road safety

Recent bad weather has widened and lengthened a landslide that happened in Merthyr Tydfil over Christmas threatening the stability and safety of a road.
The council has released a statement saying recent bad weather and flooding has resulted in the landslip that occurred below the road during the Christmas period to widen and lengthen at Pontsarn so the road wouldn’t be re-opening as planned on April 26.
A site visit has taken place, including an emergency independent inspection, and the council is waiting on the report to understand the scale of the situation as the continued erosion threatens the stability and safety of the road.
Despite these challenges the council said that contractors have been working tirelessly and the upper landscape and road has been strengthened and would have been completed on time if it wasn’t for the sheer amount of rainfall over the last few months but there are now concerns on the vulnerability of the road below.
The council is currently in discussions with Welsh Government, contractors, and independent assessors who are all working towards the next steps needed to achieve an action plan.
The council said: “We want to assure residents that safety is paramount. The road will not be reopening as originally planned on April 26 until we can receive the report and assess the safety. We will keep you updated when we know more information over the coming weeks.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​