RCT Council will shortly undertake significant work to upgrade three drainage gullies on the A4059 between Mountain Ash and Abercynon – to give greater resilience at a low spot which has a history of flooding, including recently in Storm Dennis.
The scheme includes converting the existing gully covers into larger units and the installation of six new 600mm gully chambers, which will be placed on a new carrier drain. The drain will be carried under the carriageway by using new manholes on either side of the road, transporting rainwater to the River Cynon which requires the construction of a new headwall and concrete apron.
The work will be carried out by the Council from Monday, August 2, lasting approximately two weeks during the school holiday to minimise disruption. Southbound vehicles will be diverted via the layby adjacent to the main road, in order to maintain two-way traffic flow at all times. The layby will therefore be unavailable for parking throughout the duration of the scheme.
The Council has secured full funding from Welsh Government’s Resilient Roads Fund in order to undertake these important improvement works.
Councillor Andrew Morgan, Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and Cabinet Member with responsibility for Highways and Transportation, said: “Significant drainage improvement works will begin at the start of August on the A4059 between Mountain Ash and Abercynon – aiming to provide greater resilience at this location during periods of heavy rainfall. I’m pleased that the Council has secured full Welsh Government funding for the work.
“The Council will install ‘super gullies’ at a low spot which has been flooded in the past – including during the unprecedented weather of Storm Dennis in February 2020, when a mountain culvert overflowed. The road was closed for two days while waiting for the area to drain. The upcoming work intends to alleviate the risk of flooding to the road – and if it does flood, to allow us to reopen this arterial route through the Cynon Valley more quickly.
“This is the latest Resilient Roads scheme delivering targeted drainage improvements in the Rhondda and Cynon valleys. The Council initially received £4.9m to improve 16 locations in 2020/21, and then secured an additional £2.75m in March 2021 to further progress works at 19 identified locations. Notable schemes to date have been delivered at the Porth Relief Road in Ynyshir last summer, the A4059 from Penywaun to Trecynon at the start of this year, and the A4059 Aberdare Bypass works which are ongoing.
“The upcoming work on the A4059 between Abercynon and Mountain Ash has been scheduled for the school summer holiday to minimise disruption. The work will take place over two weeks, maintaining traffic flow in both directions by utilising the layby, which was formally the main road, for southbound traffic. Thanks in advance to road users for their cooperation during the scheme.”
