£1.25m Works Are Set To Begin Later This Month

Rhigos Mountain Road, £1.25m works are set to begin later this month (July) as part of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s wider £23m Highways Investment scheme. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

These major investment works will be carried out to renew 9km of highways which has been damaged following a number of severe winters. The investment will also allow drainage works to take place. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This vital road, which links the Cynon and Rhondda Valleys for thousands of commuters everyday will remain open where possible under traffic light control. However a period closure will need to put in place to carry out the main resurfacing works. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Traffic Management and a number of road closures are expected to be in place from w/c 21st July 2016 until 31st August 2016. It is expected that the road will need to close for no longer than 3 weeks – this may not be concurrently and this will be done during school holidays while traffic levels are lower, so that disruptions can be kept to an absolute minimum where possible. The Council would like to reassure residents that contractors will be working increased hours and also 7 days per week to carry out the works as quickly as possible. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, Councillor Andrew Morgan, who is also Cabinet Member for Highways, said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We are investing over a million pounds to improve the Rhigos Mountain Road, which is a vital road connecting two of our valleys; Rhondda and Cynon. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This road suffers heavily during the winter months and is in need of resurfacing before we are hit by yet another winter season. Our investment will repair and safeguard the road to help prevent the road deteriorating further over the next few years. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This scheme is part of the wider RCTinvest programme of works which will see £200m invested across the county borough in areas such as Leisure, Play Areas, Schools, Town and Village Centres and Recycling Facilities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Myself and my Cabinet wholeheartedly support the improvements to our highways and structures continue to be a key priority when it comes to allocating our financial resources and this is why we are investing £23m in them over the next 3 years. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Our £23m investment in Highways Improvements, Infrastructure, and Strategic Projects is on top of the £53m we have already invested since 2011 meaning that by 2018/19 we will have invested over £76m in these key areas in recent years. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Whilst this work demonstrates our commitment to maintain and improve the road infrastructure for the benefit of residents, businesses and visitors alike, the targeted works at Rhigos Mountain Road are likely to cause disruptions to motorists and I would reassure our residents that every measure has been taken to minimise this where possible. I would like to urge residents to continue to support us whilst these essential works are carried out as it is for their longer term benefit.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Advanced signage advising drivers to use alternative routes will be in place on all approaches to allow drivers to avoid the area completely during these critical works. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​