Fiddler’s Elbow Update – Additional Lane Opens At Bridge Street Roundabout

Works to the busy, Bridge Street roundabout, Pontypridd will now improve traffic flow and capacity for motorists in the area, as the additional inner lane has been opened as part of RCTinvest. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The works to the important roundabout in Pontypridd are part of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s £23m Highways, Transportation, Infrastructure and Strategic Projects (HTISP) Investment Programme. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The roundabout improvements were carried out ahead of the major works taking place to Fiddlers Elbow, Abercynon, (8 August) to help ease the disruption to motorists using the diversion route. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The works on the roundabout have led to the widening of the circulatory carriageway on the eastern side of the roundabout to allow a third circulatory lane to be created which will now allow improved circulation around the roundabout. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The funding for Bridge Street roundabout and RCT Council’s part of the Fiddlers Elbow scheme has been allocated from the £23m investment scheme which is set to continue over the next three years and is part of the wider £200m RCTinvest programme. This multi-million-pound project will see the Council invest significantly in key priority areas, including; Leisure and Outdoor Leisure Facilities, Play Areas, Highways and Structures, Transport Infrastructure, Flood Alleviation, Schools, Recycling Facilities, Housing and Town and Village Centres. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In addition to the works at Bridge Street roundabout, Pontypridd, temporary traffic lights have also been installed and alterations have been made to the junction at Travellers Rest, Abercynon to allow a right turn on to the A470 towards Pontypridd to help ease the disruption to motorists using the diversion route. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The £2m Fiddlers Elbow scheme will see movement joints replaced together with re-waterproofing and resurfacing of the decks on this vital viaduct. Once the repairs are completed the structural plates (humps) that are currently bridging the joints and the temporary 20 mph speed limit can be lifted. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Fiddlers Elbow bridge links the adjacent County Boroughs of Merthyr Tydfil and Caerphilly to the A470 trunk road and Rhondda Cynon Taf and works are likely to cause disruption to road users. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Ownership of the bridge is shared jointly between Merthyr Tydfil and Rhondda Cynon Taf Councils and funding of the project will be shared equally between the Authorities. However Merthyr Tydfil Council is the lead authority on this project. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

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

“As part of RCTinvest various works have been carried out, including those to Bridge Street roundabout, Pontypridd and at Travellers Rest, Abercynon, which will not only help ease disruption on the Fiddlers Elbow diversion route, but in the longer term, will help ease congestion on one of Pontypridd’s busiest roundabouts by increasing traffic flow capacity for motorists in the area. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The targeted works at Fiddlers Elbow are likely to cause major disruptions to motorists and I would reassure residents and our neighbouring authorities that we have been working with our colleagues in Merthyr Tydfil Council, who are taking the lead on this project, to ensure every measure has been taken to minimise this where possible. I would urge residents to continue to support these vital works as they are carried out as it is for their longer term benefit.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Works to Fiddlers Elbow viaduct, that are expected to last until Winter 2016, have now become urgent due to 30 years of wear and tear and cannot be deferred any longer despite the likely disruption that partially closing the bridge will cause motorists. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Download the Fiddler’s Elbow all you need to know guide…. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Diversions ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The following diversions are in place to prioritise traffic leaving the A470 maintaining two lanes of traffic Eastbound, away from the A470 North and towards Nelson at all times. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Please be aware, there will be no access Westbound to the A470 over the bridge for the duration of the works. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Towards Merthyr Tydfil (A470 North) ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

You will be diverted via A4054 through Quakers Yard, Merthyr Vale and Troedyrhiw rejoining the A470 at Pentrebach. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Towards Pontypridd/Cardiff (A470 South) ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

You will be diverted via A4054, turning right at the temporary traffic lights at Travellers Rest to rejoin the A470. Larger vehicles unable to complete the tight right turn will be directed to Navigation Park where they will go around the roundabout back to the temporary traffic lights at Travellers Rest at a more appropriate angle. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Towards Mountain Ash/Aberdare (A4059) ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

You will be diverted to Pontypridd (see A470 South) where you will exit and go around Bridge Street roundabout to rejoin the A470 towards Abercynon, joining the A4059 at Abercynon roundabout. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Advanced signage advising drivers to use alternative routes should now be in place on all approaches (e.g. A472 Ystrad Mynach) to allow drivers to avoid the area completely during these critical works. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​