Three Years Late, The Road Segment Of The Heads Of The Valleys Opens.

 

Three years late and more than £110 million over budget, a section of a key road in south Wales has finally opened.

The A465 portion between Brynmawr, Blaenau Gwent, and Gilwern, Monmouthshire, was supposed to open in 2018, however it has been plagued by issues.

For the past 20 years, various portions of the road have been under construction.

The route appeared to be bringing in more business, according to Lee Meredith of Community Fitness in Brynmawr.

He stated, " "We advertised in the Abergavenny region, Blaenavon, Pontypool, etc., and memberships have increased significantly since the road reopened. Simply because of the proximity to Brynmawr and the surrounding area. It's actually a good thing."

Charlotte Evans of Sgiliau, a provider of education and training, said she "can't believe" it took seven years to complete the project.

The construction is part of an £800 million Welsh government plan to make the entire route from Monmouthshire to Neath Port Talbot a dual carriageway.

Construction is also underway between Dowlais Top, Merthyr Tydfil, and Hirwaun, Rhondda Cynon Taf, which will cause additional delays until 2025.

The road was created in the 1960s as one of five major roads selected by the Ministry of Transport to connect the area to the Midlands in a post-war economy.

The construction is part of an £800 million Welsh government plan to make the entire route from Monmouthshire to Neath Port Talbot a dual carriageway.

Construction is also underway between Dowlais Top, Merthyr Tydfil, and Hirwaun, Rhondda Cynon Taf, which will cause additional delays until 2025.

The road was created in the 1960s and was one of five essential routes recognized by the Ministry of Transportation.

"It's been a lengthy journey from Brynmawr to Abergavenny, our second location, especially waiting in traffic, and we've had to make up for it at home with paperwork," she said.

"But I love Brynmawr, and I'm hoping that now that all the roads are back to normal, we'll see a lot more young people and businesses return."

The Welsh government imposed a block on all new road-building projects earlier this year, so the types of projects that get the green light in the future may be different.

Others in the area, on the other hand, believe that alternatives to road travel will not work for individuals who need to cross valleys.

The new dual carriageway, according to Neil Gregory of GOS Tool and Engineering Services in Blaenavon, Blaenau Gwent, which employs 135 people producing excavators for the railways, is "terrific" and a critical link for many.

Mr Gregory added, "Every morning, people attempt to come to us from all of the top of the valley communities."

"There's no way they'd be able to arrive at 07:30 using public transportation." It is critical that we have a robust road network at the valley's apex."

"This has been a tough project, and we know that," the Welsh government said.