All work to improve pedestrian facilities and provide safer routes to school in Hawthorn has now been completed – to complement the opening of modern education facilities for the community this September.
The overall scheme has also been completed in time for an official Park and Ride Facility to operate in Hawthorn during the National Eisteddfod of Wales, which is being held in Pontypridd and Rhondda Cynon Taf from August 3-10.
Using significant Welsh Government funding for 2024/25, the Hawthorn Safe Routes in Communities scheme has focused on improving Cardiff Road, School Lane and Ynyslyn Road – key routes for pupils and families walking and cycling to Hawthorn Primary School and Hawthorn High School each day.
Works started in May 2024, and the final elements of the overall scheme have recently been completed by the Council’s contractor. They have included:
- Installing a new toucan crossing along A4054 Cardiff Road, with alterations to an adjacent junction for improved safety.
- Removing the holding lanes at Cardiff Road to reduce the width of the carriageway, which has improved pedestrian safety.
- Upgrading the footway along School Lane to a shared use active travel route, including new directional signage for pedestrians and cyclists.
- Providing new parking laybys to improve the visibility for pedestrians at several local junctions.
- Improving sections of footway, and installing and upgrading informal crossings using tactile paving.
- Introducing ‘no parking’ measures at identified junctions to improve upon current traffic flows.
Final resurfacing has recently taken place along Cardiff Road, using a necessary local road closure. Please be aware that the carriageway at Ynyscorrwg Road will also be resurfaced later in the summer – the Council will communicate details to residents about the arrangements in due course.
Councillor Andrew Morgan OBE, Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Investment, said: “These important local improvements in Hawthorn will provide a safer environment for pedestrians and cyclists in the community – and for families accessing school each morning and afternoon. The changes have included a new safe crossing at Cardiff Road, as well as upgrading footways with dedicated active travel facilities, increasing visibility at junctions, and improving informal crossings.
“The Council has benefitted from significant support from Welsh Government, via its Safe Routes in Communities grant, to deliver these local improvements. Matched by our own capital funding, the scheme represents an investment of around £470,000. We are aiming to encourage more families to walk to school to increase their health and well-being, to reduce local traffic, and to help the environment – and it’s therefore important to provide safer routes to schools.
“This work in Hawthorn is also delivered ahead of the major investment in education facilities for the area. From September 2024, the new 3-16 Ysgol Afon Wen will open on the current primary and secondary school site off Cardiff Road – including a brand new school building and external facilities.
“Similar safe routes schemes were delivered alongside our recent school developments in Hirwaun and, most-recently, Church Village – ahead of the opening of Llanilltud Faerdef Primary School’s new building in April 2024. Past schemes have either complemented school investments or have been identified separately – and these have been completed in Llantwit Fardre, Llwynypia, Abercynon, Llantrisant, Cilfynydd and Ton Pentre in recent years.
“I’d like to thank local residents in Hawthorn for their cooperation during the recent works, including the road closure for the final resurfacing element.”
Posted on 26/07/2024