Talbot Green Roundabout Works Move Ahead

Work is moving forward to improve a busy, strategic roundabout in Talbot Green at the intersection of the A4119 with the A473. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The proposed works will look to improve traffic flow to the area, which often acts a bottle-neck to motorists at peak times. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The developer funded project will see investment targeted at improving the highways infrastructure to this prime area of the County Borough. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This investment is in addition to Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s £23m Highways, Transportation, Infrastructures and Strategic Projects (HTISP) Investment Programme. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The £23m investment programme is set to run over the next three years and is part of the wider £200m RCTinvest scheme. This multi-million-pound project sees the Council allocate significant funds to its 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. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Over £53m has already been invested in the County Borough’s Highways and Transportation Infrastructures and Strategic Projects since 2011 and the affects of these works can be seen right across the County Borough. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The HTISP Investment scheme will see a number of streets, roads, towns and villages right across the County Borough benefit as work is now ploughing ahead to tackle key areas. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Works to the Talbot Green roundabout are set to begin during Summer 2016 and last until Spring 2017, with work expected to be completed before the proposed supermarket opens. Works are likely to cause some minor disruption to road users. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Council appointed Capita in Autumn 2015, who have now completed traffic analysis, preliminary and detailed designs and Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is pleased to announce that we are now in the stages of appointing a contractor to carry out these essential works. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The roundabout has been analysed in various scenarios including a larger standard roundabout, a traffic signal controlled roundabout and a complete change to a traffic signal controlled crossroads. The traffic analysis revealed that a traffic signal controlled roundabout would achieve the best betterment; therefore this option has been progressed. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The proposed works will look to include substantial increases to the roundabout approach lanes, the two approach lanes from the south and north will be increased to four lanes. The two lanes from the east (Church Village direction) will be increased to three, and the three lanes from the west will be increased to four lanes. The roundabout circulatory will be three lanes with a spiral type arrangement. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

There will also be a signal controlled pedestrian crossing on the western arm of the A473, and the 50mph speed limit will be reduced to 40mph. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, Councillor Andrew Morgan, who is also Cabinet Member for Highways, said: “It is hoped that the works taking place in Talbot Green will lead to enhanced traffic flow to a busy area, however there is likely to be some disruption whilst the works are taking place. Unfortunately this is unavoidable and any disruptions will be kept to an absolute minimum wherever possible. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Improving our highways is a key priority for the Council and we are working with various partners, including the Welsh Government to maximise our investments and seek further funding where possible. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This is in addition to my Cabinet investing over £23m in Highways Improvements, Infrastructure, and Strategic Projects over the next three years – this is on top of the £53m we have already invested since 2011 meaning that by 2018/19 we will have invested over £76m in areas in Highways Improvements, Infrastructure, and Strategic Projects in less than a decade. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We have recognised the concerns expressed by the public and the importance of investing in our key priorities, which is why we have allocated £200m over the next three years to improve areas such as Leisure and Outdoor Leisure Facilities, Play Areas, Highways and Structures, Transport Infrastructure, Flood Alleviation, Schools, Recycling Facilities, Housing and Town and Village Centres. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Myself and my Cabinet wholeheartedly agree that improvements to our highways and structures continue to be a key priority when it comes to allocating our financial resources.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The project to date has required extensive ecology works including bat surveys, reptile trapping, destructive reptile search and translocation, dense vegetation clearance etc. In total 252 slow worms, 47 common lizards and 1 grass snake were captured and relocated to a receptor site. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​