A465 Brynmawr to Gilwern Road Widening Scheme - planned road closures

Where and why?

The Welsh Government is converting 8km of the A465 between the Glanbaiden junction at Gilwern and the Brynmawr roundabout to 2 lanes in each direction. Construction began in December 2014 and is scheduled to continue until April 2021.

Diversions and safety measures

To undertake this long term major project, the contractor requires various full road closures, lane closures and other methods of traffic management, such as temporary traffic lights, during the course of the works. The most appropriate method of traffic control is considered for the circumstances, for the safety of both the public and the road workers on site. Every effort is made to minimise disruption, such as 24-hour working during full road closures to reduce the number of closures required overall.

Diversion routes during road closures

Whenever road or carriageway closures are required, diversion routes are signed locally.

Full carriageway closures will be effective:

• From Brynmawr roundabout where the A467 from Abertillery, Blaina and Brynmawr and the A4047 from Brynmawr town joins the A465 Heads of the Valleys trunk road in the west;
• To Glanbaiden roundabout in the East where the A465 meets the A4077 Abergavenny Road and the B4246 (locally ‘the Govilon Road’).

Three diversion routes are advised, one of which is signed from Brynmawr roundabout on the A465 in the west and from Hardwick roundabout on the A465 in the east. Access to Glanbaiden roundabout is possible from Hardwick roundabout in the east along the A465 towards Gilwern during the closure.

For eastbound travellers, the local signed diversion from Hardwick roundabout in the east follows the A4042 towards Mamhilad and Pontypool, then the A472 towards Hafodyrynys and Crumlin, then the A467 north towards Abertillery and on to Brynmawr. The diversion is also signed in the opposing direction for westbound travellers.

Cross carriageway crossings of the A465 will be possible at Saleyard from Station Road in the south to Main Road in the north and vice versa. Cross carriageway crossing will be possible, utilising side roads, at Gilwern from Station Road in the south to Main Road in the north and and vice versa.

A protocol is in place to enable emergency vehicles to pass through the works during the closure and to reopen the road in the event of disruption on the M4.

*The dates may be changed for various reasons, such as bad weather

Enquiries

Road works that are expected to caused significant disruptions to travel will be posted to the map and disruption pages of this website, Traffic Wales iPhone and Google Android smartphone apps and on Twitter @TrafficWalesS and @TraffigCymruD.

The latest scheme updates are available on the A465 Section 2 project Twitter account @A465_Section2 and Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/A465Section2/.

Further information on the background of the scheme is available from the Welsh Government website:

http://gov.wales/topics/transport/roads/schemes/a465/section-2/?lang=en.

You can also find out about road closures, diversions and project news by subscribing to Costain’s mailing list. Email Lauren Batten to subscribe.