This summer, Wales is on track to finish one of the UK’s largest and most technically complex road projects. Funded by the Welsh Government at a cost of £1.4 billion, the project aims to boost
accessibility, shorten travel times, enhance road safety, and provide greater resilience and reliability for road users.
Once completed, the A465 (Hirwaun to Dowlais) scheme will deliver 17.7 kilometers of new dual carriageway, 6.1 kilometers of side roads, over 14 kilometers of active travel routes, 38 new culverts to manage water flow, 30 newly constructed bridges, and 28 retaining walls.
Beyond improving transportation links, the project is set to provide substantial economic benefits to local communities by connecting the Valleys, South and West Wales to the English Midlands and beyond. Key economic impacts of the project include:
- Over 2,000 new jobs created, with more than half of the workforce coming from local communities
- Employment of 158 apprentices, with nearly half hailing from the Valleys region, supporting local education and skills development
- Support for over 66 community initiatives
- More than £200 million spent within the Valleys supply chain
- Delivery of over 22,000 hours of engagement with school pupils
Environmental initiatives
In addition to its economic benefits, the project has undertaken several environmental measures to mitigate its ecological impact. Key actions include:iRelocation of species such as the great crested newt and marsh fritillary butterfly, along with the creation of new habitats for these species, as well as bats, dormice, and lapwings
Preservation efforts, such as relocating coppiced stools and topsoil from affected ancient woodlands
Planting more than 55,000 trees locally, with a total of 120,000 trees expected by the end of the project. Photo by Whatlep, Wikimedia commons.