The first phase of repair and refurbishment of Imperial Bridge, Porth, will soon be complete – enabling the bridge section of Pontypridd Road to reopen later this month. Further repairs to complete this work is planned for next year.
The overall scheme, which started during April 2022, will carry out steelwork repairs to structural elements of the bridge, repaint of all of the steelwork and parapets, install expansion joints and complete the final road resurfacing. The contractor Centregreat Ltd has made good progress under a road closure.
So far, the completed work has included all of the steelwork repairs to the bridge structure and parapet, applying a protective paintwork to all of the structure, and replacing the southern bridge bearings. As a result, Pontypridd Road will be able to reopen to road users from Wednesday, November 30.
All local bus services which have been running alternative arrangements due to the closures (services 132, 124, 131, 138 and 150) will return to their normal routes, while the temporary local shuttle bus service will end.
However, due to time constrictions on the project, the contractor has been unable to complete the replacement of the northern bridge bearings, It will therefore return to site next year for a second phase of work. This will also include waterproofing the bridge deck and the final carriageway resurfacing.
Councillor Andrew Morgan, Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Investment, said: “The repair and refurbishment of the historic Imperial Bridge is a large and significant scheme, and I’d like to thank the community in Porth for their patience and cooperation as this work has progressed under a road closure. I’m pleased that Pontypridd Road is able to reopen at the end of November, staying open for the winter.
“Each year, in the Council’s Highways Capital Programme, significant funding is earmarked to repair, maintain and future-proof structures that support the road network. Imperial Bridge in Porth is just one of the major schemes for 2022/23, under a wider £5.65m investment to replace Brook Street Footbridge in Ystrad, Llanharan Railway Footbridge, and the Nant Cwm Parc Cantilever in Treorchy. This is also separate to the £6.4m funding for Storm Dennis structure repairs this financial year.
“While Imperial Bridge will reopen to motorists at the end of this month, the contractor will return to the site next year to complete outstanding elements of the scheme. The Council will communicate more details to residents once the arrangements are finalised. This second phase of work, which is subject to funding being secured, is currently planned to resume on site from May 2023.”
Posted on 10/11/2022