Cabinet To Consider Options For Repair Of Maerdy Mountain

Cabinet will this week consider options for the repair of the Maerdy Mountain road following a landslip last December. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Following the landslip on December 31 2015 and further slippage during January 2016, extensive ground testing works have been undertaken to establish the extent of the problem and what the repair options are. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Pending Cabinet approval, repair works costing between £1M and £1.5M, would be scheduled for summer 2017 to minimise potential disruption. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, Councillor Andrew Morgan, said: “Since the landslip occurred, officers have been working with contractors to stabilise the road and keep it open whilst the necessary investigative works were undertaken. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The Maerdy Mountain Road links Rhondda and Cynon valleys and also provides access from Rhondda Fach to the Heads of the Valleys Road so it is a priority that the road is fully repaired but done so causing as little disruption as possible. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The ground testing works have now been completed and the report to be considered by Cabinet outlines what now needs to be done to repair the road. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“In order to fully repair Maerdy Mountain and to future proof it as far as possible against further landslips, it is estimated that a significant investment of between £1M and £1.5M will be required. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Given how important this road is it is a priority to get it fully repaired and a future report will come to Cabinet to seek approval for the funding required to do so. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The landslip was caused by issues with surface and ground water on the mountain during a period of prolonged and heavy rainfall. To prevent this happening again investigations are progressing on an extensive new drainage system which will need to be designed and implemented on the mountain side. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Should Cabinet approve, the work cannot be started until the detailed design work and associated procurement processes have been completed. Carrying out the works during next year’s summer holidays allows the necessary time for this with this period also being the quietest time in terms of cars on the road meaning the least amount of disruption will be caused. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“During the closure, we would also look to take the opportunity to carry out wider works such as extensive resurfacing of the road, repairing and rebuilding the stone walls and renewing cats eyes. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Clearly a full road closure on Maerdy Mountain will have an impact on motorists but, as with the works which have recently benefitted Rhigos Mountain Road, we will work to minimise disruption and keep residents and motorists fully informed and updated.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Following the landslip in December 2015 and further slippage in January 2016, a successful application was made to Welsh Government for funding to stabilise the road and keep it open. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Traffic management has been in place since the landslip to stabilise the mountain road whilst also keeping it open for motorists during investigative works. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Investigative works have identified that an investment of between £1M and £1.5M will be needed to fully repair the road and future proof it from further landslips. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Should Cabinet approve the suggested way forward, a further report will need to be considered in order to allocate the necessary funding. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​