A series of works near A4061 Station Road and Treorchy Library will begin shortly – in order to widen the footway on the main road, remove the disused toilet block and future-proof several existing highways structures.
Advanced work has been undertaken at this location over the past few weeks, in preparation for the Council’s contractor Walters Ltd to start the main element of the work from Wednesday, July 14. Demolition work will incorporate the disused toilet block opposite Treorchy Library, the river retaining wall which supports the grass verge, and the sub-standard cantilever which supports the footway on the main road and the concrete parapet attached.
This will enable the extension and widening of the footway on Institute Bridge – along with a length of the footway alongside the A4061 located above the Nant Cwm Parc – into an Active Travel route. The bridge’s steel beams will also be strengthened, while the scheme also includes improving a blockstone weir downstream of the bridge to improve the biodiversity of the stream.
The work will be completed in mid-autumn and there will only be disruption to traffic for a minority of the scheme – with traffic management on the A4061 currently anticipated to take place during October 2021. Further details about this disruption will be communicated by the Council in due course.
The library car park will be brought out of use for the duration of the scheme. Signage will direct motorists to an alternative car park established at Treorchy Market Place (opposite the Co-op store), for use during specified work hours.
At the end of the scheme, works will be carried out to reinstate the footway adjacent to Treorchy Library as well as the access road to the car park.
Councillor Andrew Morgan, Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and Cabinet Member with responsibility for Highways and Transportation, said: “The Council’s appointed contractor has started a significant scheme in Treorchy which comprises a number of separate works – including demolition of the disused toilet block, improvement of infrastructure and ultimately future proofing Institute Bridge and the watercourse which runs nearby.
“Another benefit of the work will be widening the footway next to the A4061 – creating a shared Active Travel route in this busy area serving the Parc and Dare Theatre and Treorchy Library, along with a supermarket, railway station and comprehensive school all in close proximity. The Council continues to incorporate Active Travel into its highway improvement schemes as a matter of course, and residents will have another opportunity to take part in the next phase of our active travel consultation when it opens later this year.
“Residents and road users are thanked in advance for their cooperation as the work is carried out over the coming months. With the library car park brought out of use, alternative parking provision has been established locally – while some traffic management is required towards the end of the scheme in order to accommodate the works on Station Road. The Council will work closely with its contractor to make progress with as minimal disruption as possible.”
