Important maintenance work to the Lanelay Bridge in Talbot Green will start next week, as the Council carries out a comprehensive refurbishment scheme to repair and future-proof the large structure.
The masonry arch bridge carries Lanelay Road over the River Ely near the A473 roundabout, and repairs will get underway from Monday, May 15. The Council has appointed Centregreat Ltd as the contractor with responsibility for delivering this maintenance work, which will last around eight weeks in total.
The work will include removal of loose pointing from the arch and abutments, removal of vegetation from the headwalls and parapets, repairs to cracks, removal of trees from upstream training walls and rebuilding of training walls. The scheme will not include any major strengthening works to the bridge.
Traffic management will be required on Lanelay Road to facilitate deliveries to the site compound. However, this will only include single lane closures which will be controlled and managed using Stop/Go boards – no full closures of the road are anticipated. Footpath closures may also be required on the bridge, but pedestrians will be safely diverted to the opposite pavement.
This scheme in Talbot Green is funded within the Council’s £27.665m Capital Programme for Highways, Transportation and Strategic Projects in 2023/24, agreed in March 2023. It is part of £4.45m funding for Highways Structures.
Councillor Andrew Morgan OBE, Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Investment, said: “This work at Lanelay Bridge is a scheduled scheme – part of the Council’s monitoring and maintenance of around 1,500 structures that support our highways network in Rhondda Cynon Taf. Activity in the coming weeks will include refurbishment of the structure’s stone masonry, vegetation clearance and repointing work.
“This is a key scheme within our major ongoing funding for structures – as the 2023/24 Capital Programme has allocated £4.45m for Highways Structures and £780,000 for Parks Structures for the year ahead. Other important works being progressed within the programme include Bodringallt Bridge in Ystrad, Imperial Bridge in Porth, Graig Las Bridge in Hendreforgan, Rhigos Road Rock Anchors in Blaenrhondda and Colliery Street Footbridge in Trehafod.
“Work will begin at Lanelay Bridge on May 15, with the majority of the site activity taking place at a level beneath the road. However, some lane closures and footway closures may be needed on Lanelay Road, and these will be scheduled outside of the busier travel hours where possible. Officers will work with our appointed contractor to make progress while minimising disruption. Thanks to residents and commuters in advance for your cooperation.”
