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A road damaged by landslips, long in need of repair, will be undergoing construction until 2026, the Welsh Government has confirmed.

The A469 near Troedrhiwfuwch, which runs between New Tredegar and Pontlottyn, was affected by a landslip in 2014 and then ground movement in 2020 due to Storm Dennis and has been reduced to single-lane traffic ever since.

In February 2023 the Welsh Government confirmed the road would be one of a select few that would be repaired after the Roads Review – which saw many road projects scrapped as they were not in line with Wales’ environmental strategies.

Caerphilly County Borough Council is the responsible highway authority for the work on the A469 and the scheme received Welsh Government grant funding through the Resilient Roads Fund.

After submitting Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to both Caerphilly County Borough Council and the Welsh Government, Caerphilly Observer can now reveal that construction is set to continue until 2026. 

This means construction will be completed 12 years after the road was first beset by problems and six years since it has been operating as a single-lane road. 

When Caerphilly Observer asked the council for the proposed timeline for the road repair, the FOI response stated: “Stage B of the project design was awarded in 2022 and Welsh Government funding was recently approved towards the continuation of additional site survey work, early warning review, additional ground investigation and monitoring and preliminary design development for 2023. 

“A preliminary design decision is expected in 2024 which will then inform the full design process.”

The Welsh Government’s response read: “The detailed design and WelTAG Stage 3 work is planned for 2023/24. The construction phase is planned for 2024/25 and 2025/26.”

When Caerphilly Observer asked Caerphilly County Borough Council how much the project would cost, the FOI response stated: “Construction costs are quite volatile at present and early cost indications were circa £15m but this will be refined as detailed design progresses.”

The Welsh Government response stated: “The projected total scheme cost is £15,836,900.”

Design stages

Further correspondence with Caerphilly County Borough Council outlined more about the next stages of the repair. 

A spokesperson for the council confirmed that a preliminary design is currently expected in February 2024. 

There are a number of things which go into a preliminary design including site investigations, desktop studies, drainage surveys, ecology surveys and cost estimates. 

Once this is complete, there will be a detailed design stage, when drawings and associated specifications are produced.

A spokesperson for the council added: “It is too early at present to state how long the detailed design will take for this project. This is because until the preliminary design is completed the full requirements for the detailed design are not known.”

‘Much-needed project’

When the Welsh Government confirmed the road would be repaired, a number of local politicians commented on the news. 

Leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council, Cllr Sean Morgan, said: “This is a very positive step forward and I’m sure residents in the Upper Rhymney Valley will join me in thanking Welsh Government for their support to help tackle this long-standing issue.

“We will now seek clarity from Welsh Government about the funding being made available to enable us to move this much-needed project forward.”

Despite not posing a risk to road users, the road surface is affected by ground movement so a specialist contractor will need to be found to complete the construction – this means that the traffic lights will stay in place for the time being.

Cllr Morgan added: “The site will be subject to ongoing monitoring to ensure that the road remains safe for highway users.

“The council’s cabinet will consider a report in due course regarding funding and timescales and we will keep the community informed and updated. I would like to assure everyone that these works are a key priority and they will be progressed at pace.”

Cllr Mansel Powell, who represents Moriah and Pontlottyn, told Caerphilly Observer he was “relieved” about the decision. 

Cllr Powell said the next step was for a timeline to be discussed and approved. 

Dawn Bowden, Senedd Member for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney, wrote in a Facebook post: “I am really pleased to see that the Welsh Government Roads Review approves A469 improvements at Troedrhiwfuwch.

“This is great news for constituents who regularly commute on the road in the local area.”

Cllr Carl Cuss, who represents Twyn Carno, said: “I’m just really pleased,” adding that the funding will have a knock-on effect on constituents in his ward. “It does affect the Upper Rhymney Valley.”