RCT Council has shared a virtual fly-through tour of the proposed Llanharan Bypass, which will feature in an extensive public consultation which will be commencing in the near future.
In March 2021, the Council provided a progress update on the major highway scheme, and announced that it would undertake a Pre-Planning Application consultation exercise in summer 2021. This will further bring residents up to date with progress and receive their views to inform a planning submission.
The proposed Llanharan Bypass scheme will construct a new road to the south of Llanharan, which is split into three sections. The road’s western section has already been built off the Dragon Studios roundabout as part of the Llanilid development, while the middle section will be constructed by a housing developer as part of their scheme.
The 1.6km eastern section of the road, and an active travel route, will be built by the Council. In 2019, Cabinet agreed the road will meet the A473 east of Llanharan Service Station. The Council will also re-align Llanharry Road to connect into the bypass via the roundabout at the top of Enterprise Way – and the current alignment of Llanharry Road will be used as a footway/cycleway.
The A473 bends to the west of the Dragon Studios Roundabout (known locally as Cow Corner) will be replaced with a straighter alignment, together with an active travel route to also enable improved walking and cycling links between Llanharan and Pencoed.
As a precursor to this summer’s consultation, the Council has now published a virtual fly-through tour of the proposals. The annotated video of the new road includes a voiceover explaining several aspects of the scheme – such as the routes of travel, Active Travel and sustainability and drainage considerations.
The video, created in partnership with Council consultants Redstart, will feature as part of a consultation pack in this summer’s engagement exercise – when there will be an opportunity for residents to formally share their views.
Councillor Andrew Morgan, Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and Cabinet Member with responsibility for Highways and Transportation, said: “The Llanharan Bypass is one of the Council’s priority highway schemes to be delivered in the future, having a number of advantages such as the
reduction of local journey times, reduced traffic congestion in Llanharan, Dolau and Bryncae, and to improve connectivity in the Llanilid/M4 Strategic Opportunity Area which is identified as a location for economic growth.
“The Llanharan Bypass is being progressed alongside the A4119 dualling from Coed-Ely to Ynysmaerdy, and the A465 Cynon Gateway North for which the Council completed a planning submission in early March 2021.
“The fly-through tour of the Llanharan Bypass published by the Council today is similar to a video produced last year for the A465 Cynon Gateway North – which was an effective tool to communicate the scheme to residents.
“Members of the public will be able to formally have their say in a Pre-Planning Application consultation later this summer, for which further details will be communicated in due course. This will be the second opportunity for residents to have their say, following an engagement exercise in early 2019 in which 95% of written responses showed support for the proposals.”
