RCT Council has confirmed that the main work to rectify embankment damage in Glyn-coch will start from March 20 – and the temporary traffic lights that have been in place at Ynysybwl Road will be removed upon completion.
The significant scheme to stabilise the embankment beneath the B4273 will take place over eight weeks from Monday, March 20. It is required following previous unauthorised and illegal excavations of land that removed support to the road above. The southbound lane of Ynysybwl Road and the footway near the embankment were closed as a necessary safety measure.
The complex scheme has required specialist consultants to investigate the issue. Initial stabilisation work has taken place on site, along with the completion of drainage, ecology, service tracing and topographical surveys.
During January 2023, the Council announced it has appointed Alun Griffiths (Contractors) Ltd to carry out the main works during the spring. The contractor undertook final ground investigations in January to inform the main scheme.
From March 20, the main scheme will include installing large sheet piles and soil nails to reinstate suitable support across 25-metres of the embankment. Once the work is complete, resurfacing of the road and footway at Ynysybwl Road will be undertaken to at least the length of the works area. A streetlight column will be moved to the opposite side of the road before the works begin.
The current lane closure at Ynysybwl Road will be extended in length by the contractor to enable a safe working area, while the current one-way system between the main road and Cefn Lane will continue. The lane closure might cause local traffic delays, particularly outside Craig Yr Hesg Primary School at peak hours. The bus stop north of the work site will continue to be in use.
The contractor’s site compound (offices, storage and parking facilities) will be located on land owned by the Council, adjacent to the school. A small number of welfare facilities will be contained within the lane closure at Ynysybwl Road.
A full closure of Ynysybwl Road is not required for the main works, but a local closure of the short section of road between numbers 14-15 Glyncoch Terrace might be required near the end of the scheme for the final resurfacing element. Further details will be communicated by the Council nearer the time.
The Council would like to thank residents for their patience and cooperation with this complex scheme. The upcoming work will deliver the final solution to the problem at this location, and will remove the traffic lights upon completion.
Some elements of the work will cause unavoidable disruption locally – including noisy work (such as piling activity) which will be undertaken within half term to minimise disruption to the school. The Council will work closely with its contractor to make progress as quickly and efficiently as possible.
