The new Castle Inn Footbridge in Treforest will be opened to the public from Wednesday (February 14). The contractor will continue works on site in the weeks ahead – this activity can be safely carried out with the bridge in use.
The old bridge between River Street in Treforest and Cardiff Road in Glyntaff was demolished due to severe storm damage, and a replacement structure has been installed to reinstate the link over the river. Good progress has been made since Christmas – including completing sewer and utility diversions, and the removal of temporary infrastructure under a road closure on January 20.
The footway approaches to the bridge are being completed early this week, to enable Castle Inn Footbridge to open on Wednesday, February 14. Exact timings are yet to be determined – the Council will announce when the bridge has opened on its social media accounts.
The Council’s contractor will then remain on site during the weeks ahead to complete outstanding works – including reinstating the road at River Street, as well as kerbing and footway renewals at Cardiff Road. Welsh Water will also need to attend site for essential work to the water main on Cardiff Road. The Council will then return to site to resurface the carriageway at this location.
Further finishing work will also take place this summer, when the contractor is able to access the river.
Councillor Andrew Morgan OBE, Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Investment, said: “The Castle Inn Bridge replacement in Treforest has been one of our major schemes to rectify storm damage in recent years. It’s been a very complex process from the start – firstly, to design a scheme that preserves the heritage of the former structure while finding a solution to the major local flood risk, and secondly, to contend with river working and the presence of key utilities across the bridge.
“The old bridge was found to have significantly contributed to the flooding experienced locally in Storm Dennis, by acting as a blockage in the river – so the replacement bridge, along with associated riverbank works, have been designed to deliver a huge improvement to local flood defences. Officers have also worked very closely with Cadw to inform the historic record of the former bridge, and to use some of its key features in the replacement structure.
“I’m pleased that the new footbridge will soon open to the public – providing an improved active travel link that is suitable for pedestrians and cyclists. The Council will notify residents on Wednesday when the bridge has been opened. Outstanding activity will then be progressed in the weeks ahead, while the contractor will return to site this summer for some required works in the river.
“This scheme was very time-consuming and there were periods where the progress being made was behind the scenes and not visible to the public – so I’d like to thank the community for their considerable patience throughout. This particularly applies to residents living very near to the site, whose cooperation throughout several stages of disruptive works has been much appreciated.”
The Castle Inn Footbridge replacement scheme is being delivered through a large works programme for Storm Dennis repairs in Rhondda Cynon Taf this year, which is being wholly funded by Welsh Government in 2023/24.
