The next phase of the Castle Inn Bridge replacement in Treforest will start on July 22, using a road closure at Cardiff Road. The closure is scheduled for the school summer holiday to minimise disruption, while a FREE shuttle bus will run locally.
The footbridge provided a key local link over the Afon Taff between River Street in Treforest and Cardiff Road in Glyntaff, but was severely damaged during Storm Ciara and Storm Dennis. Having been closed since 2020 as a replacement scheme was prepared, the structure has been demolished in recent weeks ahead of the upcoming installation of the new footbridge.
The bridge abutments are currently being prepared, ready for the bridge to be lifted into place in the school summer holiday. The final phases of the project will then follow on from September, including returning a sewer connection to the river crossing and finishing the approaches to the new bridge.
The single-span bridge will be around 35-metres long and 3.5-metres wide to accommodate pedestrians and cyclists, while a sewer pipe will be attached to its undercarriage. The structure is designed to deliver a huge improvement to flood defences, after the old bridge was found to have effectively acted as a blockage in the river and caused flooding in Storm Dennis. Combined with associated riverbank works, the new bridge will greatly reduce local flood risk.
Some elements of the old bridge can be re-used in the new structure – for example, the original stonework on the bridge walls. A permanent information board displaying the bridge’s historic record will also be installed locally.
Road closure for the bridge installation (starting July 22)
The Council has announced that contractor Knights Brown will start the next stage of work to install the bridge from 7.30am on Saturday, July 22. A road closure has been scheduled for the school summer holiday, and will be in place until September 3.
The scheme will require a road closure near the bridge section of Cardiff Road for the duration of the work – from the southern boundary of house number 27 northwards for 130 metres. The closure also includes the northbound and southbound lanes leading to and from the Glyntaff Interchange. A map showing the closure area and alternative routes is included here.
An alternative route for motorists, from the southern side of the closure, is via A4054 Cardiff Road, Upper Boat Roundabout, A470 northbound and Glyntaff Interchange. From the northern side of the closure, take this route in reverse order using the A470 southbound. Access will be maintained for pedestrians and to premises, but access will not be maintained for emergency services.
Cyclists should dismount and use the pedestrian diversion route, which will be signposted along Cardiff Road. This route is from a point near number 27 Cardiff Road, proceeding along the footway to the roundabout at Glyntaff – where pedestrians and cyclists will be able to safely cross the road.
Please note, while access is maintained for pedestrians, a hardstanding will be constructed on Cardiff Road for the assembly of the footbridge. The bridge has largely been constructed off site, and will arrive at Cardiff Road in several components. A 130 tonne crane will be used to lift components to assemble the bridge, while a larger 1,000 tonne crane used to install the footbridge.
There will be some occasions when, during the crane lift operations, pedestrians will be temporarily held for a short duration to ensure safety. Marshalls will be in attendance to assist with these elements of the work.
FREE shuttle bus service during the road closure
During the road closure, all buses will be unable to serve Rhydyfelin and Hawthorn, and will divert via the A470 in both directions. A FREE shuttle bus service operated by Adventure Travel Ltd will operate seven days a week from Glantaf Gardens in Rhydyfelin to The Pottery on Treforest Industrial Estate. Adventure Travel Ltd can be contacted on 02920 442040.
The shuttle bus will connect passengers with Services 120 and 132 for onward travel in both directions – to Cardiff, Caerphilly, Pontypridd and the Rhondda. Please find the weekly shuttle bus timetable here.
Meanwhile, the Adventure Travel Services 102 and 112 will operate via the Broadway, A470 to Tesco, Gellihirion Industrial Estate, Dynea Road, Holly Street, Dyffryn Road and Oak Street – before returning to their normal routes back to Tesco, A470, Glyntaff and Pontypridd. Service 104 will operate via Glyntaff, A470 to Tesco, Gellihirion Industrial Estate, Dynea Road, Holly Street, Dyffryn Road, Maesfield Way, Wordsworth Gardens and Holly Street, before resuming its normal route via Tesco, A470, Glyntaff and Pontypridd.
The Council would like to thank residents and road users for their cooperation during the upcoming work to replace Castle Inn Bridge. The scheme is being completed via a large works programme for Storm Dennis repairs in Rhondda Cynon Taf (2023/24), which is being wholly funded by Welsh Government.
Posted on 20/07/2023