Important repairs to a bridge at Maindy Road in Ton Pentre will start later this month. The work is greatly complicated by utility infrastructure on the bridge, and measures will be in place to reduce local disruption as much as possible.
The bridge carries B4223 Maindy Road at a location near the police station, just south of the junction with The Parade. The structure is in a very poor condition and Calibre Contracting Ltd will replace the bridge deck – starting in the week commencing Monday, July 24, and ending in the late winter.
The structure itself is relatively small, but it carries key pipes and apparatus for water, gas, electricity and fibre optic connections. A large proportion of the work will redirect and reinstall the connections – and the Council is reliant upon the availability of external agencies to carry out these utility works.
The scheme is absolutely necessary as the structure is an ongoing risk. If the repairs are not done in a planned way now, it risks an emergency closure in the future which would last even longer. Doing the work now could also see the Council benefit from key Welsh Government funding for Storm Dennis repairs this financial year (2023/24), which would not be available next year.
Traffic management required for the scheme
Two local road closures will be in place to best accommodate the work – which are illustrated on the following maps on the Council’s website.
The first closure is the bridge near numbers 1 and 2 Maindy Road, over 17 metres. This will accommodate the site and be in place for the entire scheme. Emergency service access will not be maintained. Pedestrian access will be maintained initially, but there may be periods during the work when it is unsafe to maintain access – please look out for local signage which will be adjusted.
The second closure is at Pentwyn Road (7.30am to 5pm daily), for 12 metres at a point north-west of Maindy Croft. This measure will prevent through-traffic from using Bailey Street as a diversion, on the grounds of safety. Bailey Street is unsuitable for larger traffic volumes usually seen on the B4233, being a narrower residential street that also contains a school. This closure will be staffed, with access maintained for emergency services, cyclists and pedestrians.
Therefore, the alternative routes for motorists will be in operation as below. They are also illustrated on the map which is included on the link above.
From 7.30am-5pm, both road closures in operation:
- From north-west of the closure, proceed via Pentwyn Road, Park Crescent, Station Road, A4058 High Street, Llewellyn Street, Ystrad Street, Ystrad Road, Church Road, and Bailey Street/Maindy Road.
- From south-east of the closure, proceed via Maindy Road/Bailey Street, Church Road, Ystrad Road, Llewellyn Street, A4058 High Street, Station Road, Park Crescent, Pentwyn Road and Maindy Road.
Outside of 7.30am-5pm – only Maindy Road closure in operation:
- From north-west of the closure, proceed via Maindy Road, Pentwyn Road, Park Crescent, Station Road, A4058 High Street, Llewellyn Street, Ystrad Road and Church Road.
- From south-east of the closure, Maindy Road Church Road, Ystrad Road, Llewellyn Street, A4058 High Street, Station Road, Park Crescent, Pentwyn Road and Maindy Road.
Additional measures to help reduce disruption
The Council will put a series of measures in place, recognising the travel disruption the work will likely cause. These will particularly focus on increasing traffic flow at Stag Square in Treorchy, which forms part of the diversion route.
There will be greater enforcement of stopping vehicles at Stag Square and surrounding roads, and the Council will work closely with local businesses to best plan deliveries. The traffic light sequence will be adjusted to promote traffic flow, recycling/waste collections will be planned for early mornings, and only absolutely urgent work will be allowed to roads on the diversion route.
Details about repair works to Maindy Road bridge
The scheme involves removing the bridge deck and installing a new bridge deck on the existing abutments. The north section of the bridge (school side) will be removed first, followed by the installation of its replacement section.
The gas main on the bridge will then be permanently diverted into the new north footway, followed by the diversion of Openreach fibre optics telecommunications apparatus beneath the existing bridge. The southern section of the bridge (police station side) can then be removed, and its replacement section installed. The Openreach apparatus will then be permanently diverted into the new south footway.
The water main that crosses the river through the abutments of the bridge will be protected throughout the works, along with the combined sewer beneath the watercourse. Electricity cables that cross the bridge in the southern footway will be isolated and removed, and reinstated within the new footway.
The Council would like to thank residents, businesses, commuters and the wider community for their patience and cooperation as these works are carried out. The scheme will repair a key structure that carries the main road at this location, for the long-term benefit of the community. The Council will keep residents up to date with the key milestones as the work progresses.
