Described as “one of the UK’s largest and most technically challenging road projects”, the final phase of the A465 has officially opened, completing the £2bn Heads of the Valleys road upgrade.
The £1.4bn Section 5&6 – Dowlais to Hirwaun final phase connects the Valleys, South and West Wales to the English Midlands and beyond.
The Welsh Government say this final section of construction has delivered 17.7km of new dual carriageway, 6km of new sideroads, more than 14km of active travel routes, 38 culverts, 32 new bridges and 28 new retaining walls.
Speaking at the official opening, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates said: “Delivering better transport and fixing our roads is a priority for this government, which is why I am delighted to be marking the completion of what has been a hugely ambitious road upgrade programme.
“It’s been a complex project, which has not been without its challenges, but is a fantastic example of how targeted investment in road infrastructure can deliver benefits on so many levels, from providing local jobs to improving accessibility, supporting education and skills, as well as delivering environmental benefits.
“Of course, a project of this magnitude is inevitably going to have an impact on local residents, and I would like to thank those that were affected for their patience. I am confident that once people realise the benefits of this investment, memories of any disruption they have experienced will start to fade.”
Finance Secretary, Mark Drakeford added: “Beyond improving transport, this project has built a legacy in the area, by training over 200 apprentices and providing STEM activities for local schools. This shows how our investments are improving more than just infrastructure; they are supporting our communities.”
“Investing in this major capital project has created real benefits for local people. It has resulted in £400m for the local supply chain and has created 2,200 new jobs.
Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative UK government initially drew up the upgrade programme in 1990 because of frequent tailbacks and serious crashes on parts of the route.
Work to turn the road into a full dual carriageway began when Tony Blair was prime minister in 2002.
The Welsh Conservatives have criticised the project citing its excessive cost and drawn-out timeline as emblematic of Welsh Labour’s “failure to manage critical infrastructure effectively”.
Commenting, Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Transport and Infrastructure, Sam Rowlands MS, said: “For the sake of long-suffering residents and businesses, there must be a huge measure of relief that this project is finally completed.
“The project has taken far too long, cost far too much, and it’s clear that important lessons need to be learned. With the M4 relief road originally estimated to cost nearly half the amount, the Welsh public will rightly question whether this gargantuan expense was worth it and if it was the right priority for Wales.
“As the final bill is totalled up, I fear that the cost of this road, will put off any future infrastructure plans from the anti-motorist Welsh Labour Government. It is clear that the country needs a change in management and only the Welsh Conservatives stand ready to fix Wales.”
