Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has provided an update on the future A4119 dualling from Coed Ely to Ynysmaerdy – including progress on the scheme’s design and an important milestone in the publication of a Compulsory Purchase Order.
The A4119 dualling is a major Transportation scheme to increase peak-time traffic flow in a busy commuter area – providing 1.5km of dual carriageway from Coed Ely Roundabout to Llantrisant Business Park. The scheme will be delivered in a future financial year and is significant within the Rhondda Gateway region, identified by the Council as a Strategic Opportunity Area.
Officers continue to progress the overall scheme, with the detailed design phase ongoing. A proposed new access to the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters in Ynysmaerdy, and the removal of the adjacent roundabout on the A4119, have been removed from the design of the scheme since the latest progress report was made by the Council in July 2019.
Plans for a new active travel bridge south of Coed Ely roundabout, to allow pedestrians and cyclists to cross from a new shared community route into the village, is included in the scheme.
Land negotiations have been ongoing since 2018 and, among a number of key elements of the scheme that were progressed in July 2019, Cabinet agreed for the Council to make a Compulsory Purchase Order if required. The Order allows Local Authorities to continue steps to acquire land required for such schemes, where a resolution hasn’t been reached during initial negotiations.
As permitted by the Highways Act 1980 and the Acquisition of Land Act 1981, the Council published a Compulsory Purchase Order on November 24, 2020.
Meanwhile, work has also been recently completed on site to inform the design phase – including ground investigations and trial holes. Officers are currently working towards completing the detailed design of the scheme.
Councillor Andrew Morgan, Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and Cabinet Member with responsibility for Highways and Transportation, said: “This progress update provides residents with the latest activity towards delivering the A4119 dualling scheme to significantly improve traffic flow on the gateway to the Rhondda, particularly at peak times. Some investigations have taken place on site in recent months, but the majority of the progress made by Officers has been ongoing behind the scenes – including developing several important aspects of work in land negotiation and detailed design.
“A significant milestone reached today is the publication of a Compulsory Purchase Order, which allows the Council to progress the land acquisition required to deliver the scheme for the benefit of not only the local community, but the wider region. It will also help unlock the former Coed Ely colliery site, on which the brand new £3.93m modern business unit is nearly complete.
“The Council is committed to delivering major highway infrastructure projects to improve traffic flow and connectivity at strategic locations across the County Borough, utilising Welsh Government funding where available. We have recently delivered the Mountain Ash Cross Valley Link, while the A4119 dualling is being progressed alongside a new bypass at Llanharan and the A465 Cynon Gateway North to extend the Aberdare Bypass. The schemes are significant priorities that the Council remains committed to delivering.
“The total allocation of funding towards the A4119 dualling is so far £7.48m – of which Welsh Government has contributed £1.33m via its Local Transport Fund. There will also be further funding opportunities invited by Welsh Government for 2021/22, which the Council plans to pursue.”
