Roundabout scheme is £1m over budget

Work to improve the capacity of a busy roundabout is thought to be around £1 million over budget, Caerphilly Observer understands. The £5.3m scheme to overhaul the Pwllypant (Cedar Tree) roundabout on the A468/9 in Caerphilly began in October last year and had been scheduled to run for 12 months. However a backlash from motorists fed-up with long queues of traffic on the single-lane roundabout saw the council rejig work to open two-lanes. This had a knock-on effect which has seen the project’s timescale slip. A spokeswoman for Caerphilly County Borough Council said: “The scheme has increased in time and cost, which was to be expected when the changes were made to reduce the time of single lane running on the Llanbradach southbound arm earlier on in the scheme. “We have had additional monies supplied by Welsh Government to contribute to the increase. “The remainder is currently being funded from the identified internal funding streams that were allocated at the start of the project. “There has been no request to provide money from reserves and at the moment there is no intention to need to do this.” In January this year, the council was given an additional £350,000 from the Welsh Government to help ease congestion. A report agreed by the council’s cabinet in June last year identified an unspent fund of Welsh Governmetn money which had been put aside for highways improvements associated with the building of Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr in Ystrad Mynach. Caerphilly Council and its contractors are now aiming for the work to be finished before Christmas. Cllr Sean Morgan, Deputy Leader of Council said: “We are aware of the importance of completing these works as quickly as possible, particularly before the Christmas period which is key for local businesses. “We assure all concerned that any work to finalise the programme during December will aim to have minimal disruption on the travelling public. “The council has worked closely with our contractor to respond positively to the needs of residents and the local business community and we are pleased that the details of the completion of the programme have now been finalised up to this point.” Cllr Morgan added a note of caution that “unforeseen circumstances could have an impact on our time frames.” Nick Rolfe, Contract Director of Walters, the project’s main contractor, said: “The scheme has thrown up a number of difficult issues over the last few months and the project team, made up of both Walters and council staff, have responded with a positive and proactive approach, on what has become a challenging project. “This has enabled us to optimise our resources and supply chain, the majority of which are based in the region, and improve on the planned completion date and lessen the overall impact on all stakeholders. “We have some way to go but we are optimistic that we can complete before Christmas 2018.” This month has seen the return of long traffic queues as the roundabout has reverted to single-lane. This has led to reports of two hour delays on the A469coming down the Rhymney Valley towards Caerphilly. Frustrated motorists have posted up dashcam footage of the queues stretching back as far as Llanbradach and beyond. A one-way system has also been implemented on the Heol Pwllypant. Traffic is unable to exit the roundabout onto Heol Pwllypant, but traffic coming down the hill will be able to access the roundabout. It is estimated that the works will take four to five weeks to complete. A spokeswoman for Caerphilly County Borough Council said: “The single lane arrangements will be in place throughout August to enable the contractor to carry out essential works in the verge and central reservation.”