The Council will soon undertake important future-proofing and cleaning work to New Rheola Bridge in Porth, which will require a series of weekend road closures and week-night traffic management – starting this weekend (July 25).
New Rheola Bridge carries a section of the A4233 Porth Relief Road and is a key gateway route to and from the Rhondda Fach. It is therefore important that the bridge is regularly maintained. The Council has secured funding from the UK Government’s Pride in Place Impact Fund to deliver this scheme, and has appointed Hammond (ECS) Ltd as the contractor to undertake the works.
The works will involve clearing vegetation from the bridge, cleaning the structure’s parapets and arches, and undertaking painting.
Due to the bridge’s central location, the scheme will cause unavoidable disruption to road users. It has been scheduled on weekends and at night – and during the school summer holiday – to minimise disruption as much as possible. The overall scheme will be completed by the end of August 2026.
Upcoming road closures - Porth Relief Road and Rheola Road
The closures are split into two sections – the first is on Rheola Bridge, closing the section of A4233 Porth Relief Road from the A4058 to Llanwonno Road (pictured left, see map here). The second, running simultaneously when it comes into operation, will be the beneath the bridge – closing Rheola Road from the industrial estate access road to its junction with Aber-Rhondda Road, plus a section of Aber-Rhondda Road (pictured right, see map here).
- The Porth Relief Road closure will run from 8pm on Saturday to 5am on Monday on five weekends – July 25/26, August 1/2, August 8/9, August 15/16, and August 22/23. An alternative route from north of closure is via Llanwonno Rd, Aber-Rhondda Rd, Rheola Rd, Porth Street, North Rd, Pontypridd Rd, Cymmer Bridge and A4058. In the opposite direction, proceed via the A4058, Cymmer Bridge, Porth Street, Rheola Rd, Aber-Rhondda Rd and Llanwonno Rd.
- Rheola Road and a section of Aber-Rhondda Road will close from 7.30pm on Sunday to 5am on Monday on the same weekends – July 25/26, August 1/2, August 8/9, August 15/16, and August 22/23. When the two road closures are in place, an alternative route from north of Porth Relief Road is via Llanwonno Rd, Aber-Rhondda Rd, Cemetery Rd, Brithweunydd Rd, Trealaw Rd, Trealaw Roundabout and the A4058, or in the opposite direction via A4058, Trealaw Roundabout, Trealaw Rd, Brithweunydd Road Cemetery Road Aber-Rhondda Rd and Llanwonno Rd. From north of Rheola Road, proceed via Cemetery Rd, Brithweunydd Rd, Trealaw Rd, Trealaw Roundabout, A4058, Cymmer Bridge and Porth Street, or in the opposite direction via Porth Street, North Rd, Pontypridd Rd, Cymmer Bridge, A4058, Trealaw Roundabout, Trealaw Rd, Brithweunydd Rd and Cemetery Rd.
During the Porth Relief Road closures, access is unable to be maintained for emergency services and pedestrians. For the closures at Rheola Road/Aber-Rhondda Road, access will not be maintained for emergency services, but is able to be maintained for pedestrians
Additional traffic management requirements
To help ensure the scheme remains on programme for completion by the end of August and within the school summer holiday, a series of evening traffic management is planned during week-days. This will be in the form of two-way traffic lights, and will be used as and when it is required during the scheme.
Thanks to road users and local communities in advance for your patience and cooperation as this key scheme is undertaken. It will ensure New Rheola Bridge is future-proofed and available for the continued use of road users.
Find out more about our investment in Highways and Engineering through our #TransformingRCT campaign webpages.
Posted on 22/07/2026