We lived in one of the three Gurnos Cottages on the Gurnos farm in the 1960's when the original heads Of The Valleys Road was being built. Chatted to a couple of the Christiani-Shand engineers who were openly derisive of a road they were constructing that was obsolete at the time it was being built. And that was 60 years ago. As they put it: "Three lanes, one for going in, one for coming in---and one for dying in." And these were the Christiani-Shand engineers who had to build what their masters ordered!! It came within a few yards of our garden back then and so my parents moved back to West Wales and I shoved-off to California. I see that the latest version is taking about half of the garden. Very good video, and thank you.
I used to tramp this road on artics back and fore to the midlands in the eighties - it's improved so much since then and when this is completed it will make a huge difference, so long as the fools in the bay don't slap a 50 on it!
I'm expecting some 50's like Clydach gorge was given, because, coming down to Cefn Coed viaduct from both hill tops feels steeper than Cydach!....They have already put 70mph over the Hirwaun junction though.
Used to travel from Yorkshire to Swansea regularly and this is an improvement on the journey in the 90's. Still looks like there is a fair bit to do though. Thanks for the update
I use the A465 often, and yet to see workmen there, plenty of machinery though. They should work night and day to complete it. Other countries don’t take as long. It’s a nightmare!
This section has build and management has been so different from the Brynmawr to Gilwern stretch. The ‘gateway’ bridge on that section is under almost constant ‘repair’ or maintenance since it opened in Oct 2018. This results in weekend road closures ( strangely, only in the summer) to all 4 lanes of the A465 and regular traffic control on the bridge. The people of Brynmawr have had over ten years of inconvenience which are still continuing
I do feel for all those living along the route, its rotten living near such large construction and you get no compensation, the dust, the noise, the beeping...as you might have guessed there's been major construction by my home for 7 years and more to come next year
I wish they would build a dual carriageway joining north to south Wales. Living in mid Wales it takes forever to go in any direction, having to queue at every single roundabout then you've got the 20mph nonsense. We don't feel connected to either north or south Wales. For such a small country the journey times are appalling. If they want to attract investment they need a half decent roads infrastructure. To have had the same party in power for 25 years there's no excuse, and for them to come out earlier this year and publicly say there will be no new roads or improvements. Bonkers! 😢
I agree, and there is the land to do it with ease once you get north of Merthyr.....and it would benefit virtually all folk... It doesn't have to be a big Dual carriageway either a wide , good quality 2 way would do with grade separated junctions. It would pay for itself in no time with the amount of travel time saved by businesses and workers.
FVC should say to the WAG, "Now we've done that one we''ll give you a price for A465/A70 to the A55 expressway". I don't know of any other country where if you want to drive north to south, the easiest way is to go into another country because the govt. hasn't built a decent road.
I agree 100%. As a truck driver I often travel between Llanelli and North Wales. The company I work for has a depot in Wrexham. I have said many times, London is easier to get to than North Wales. There is a little improvement, the by-pass at Welshpool has helped a little.
Hope the roads smoother than what it is On the A465 by ebbw vale on the stright my nans false teeth 😁fell out driving 🚗along that stretch its so bumpy seen smoother dirt tracks .think it was laid after a few pints 🍻🍺🍷
A massive civil engineering project, compared with the “missing link” one on the A417 being done by Highways England at present. I.e. completing a dual carriageway between M4 Jc 15 & M5 Jc 11A.
@@roadsandthings Look up “A417-missing-link”, then you’re into the site with all the plans, project updates etc. Basically they’re digging into the Cotswold escarpment towards the north east of the old road, roughly following the contours, then dropping down towards the river Severn level and into the existing dual at the bottom of Crickley Hill. Re your comment about the A420 junction - that has changed a lot in the last couple of years, with one slip closing, and a new one being inserted and a revised White Hart roundabout.
I wish they would duel the A1 to Scotland. Through Northumberland. Driving to Edinburgh means driving miles out of your way to go up the M6 or getting stuck behind a tractor or horsebox forever
It's taken a LONG time so far. Some impressive engineering for bridges in the Merthyr area of it. It is a long overdue upgrade. My hope is that it gets mostly NSL limits with reductions from that in limited sensible sections. It's a new build to a great standard so no real reason to overly impose lower limits.
(copied over from another reply) I'm expecting some 50's like Clydach gorge was given, because, coming down to Cefn Coed viaduct from both hill tops feels steeper than Cydach!....They have already put 70mph over the Hirwaun junction though. The engineering is so impressive.....I'm pleased to have vidoes here from the beginning si i can look back and see again how it was acheived.
Living near this road I and most of the residents are fed up with the noise, dust, damage to houses and constant road closures. We have been offered no compensation for all this.
(I've copied this from another relpy I've made)I do feel for all those living along the route, its rotten living near such large construction and you get no compensation, the dust, the noise, the beeping...as you might have guessed there's been major construction by my home for 7 years and more to come next year... I hope things get better soon for you.
Yes it would help in the North East...I like the slow roads so I'm happy mixing it up through Coldstream, maybe Kelso or even peebles! ....I do like the A68 .
It has hardly move on in two years. It is a 10 mile building site, is way over budget and years behind regarding finishing. It has at least another 2 years to go before being anywhere finished.
Even back in the 80's the heads of the valleys road was usually gridlocked particularly around Merthyr...it needed dualling then ... But the M4 through Newport AND Port Talbot should have been done many years ago..... it is not fit for purpose.
The M4 is a pain around Newport and with the A465 being disrupted by roadworks for over 10 years, east-west travel across South Wales has been a nightmare. It will be a relief when the A465 is finished. Perhaps the senedd will then pull its finger out and sort out the M4 after wasting millions of pounds on feasability studies before deciding birds were more important than the economy of Wales.
Wow, are they still building that road? I haven't been that way in a long time, I remember when they started to fill in the missing dual carriageway sections
I live in Neath my son lives in Crickhowell, the journey there and back is an absolute nightmare. It’s getting worse. I wish they’d hurry up! Why do roadworks take so long in this country.
I think there will be massive improvement once the Dowlais and cefn coed grade seperations are up and running like Hirwaun is...and I rekon that could be withing a month or 2.
@@roadsandthings I see from your video that they have laid tarmac on the reconditioned old Taf Fawr bridge. Can't see the Nant Fawr one but I guess it's the same. When they have those slip roads ready for traffic it will be possible to open one side of the mainline Taf Fawr bridges.
@roadsandthings I've put off treatment so many times now and not just me but many of my family because you just cant get there without going miles around diversion after diversion...i get lost most of the time with the shabby directions wish they would work on the hospital road first at least and keep it simple
The Merthyr to Abergavenny dualisation is a fantastic improvement ! Undoubtedly Merthyr to Hirwaun will show the same & get rid of the old " road of death " 3 lane sections.
When I moved to Swansea in 1978 work was underway to dual the A465 at Dowlais Top. 46 years later, still being dualled at the Western end (Glynneath/Resolven).
It's not really a NEW dual carriageway. It is an existing road, known as the Heads of the Valley road (Abergavenny to Hirwaun) that is mainly now dual carriageway apart from this last section, Merthyr Tydfil to Hirwaun that was previously three lane with no central reservation.
I understand what you mean , a upgrade of an existing road but the title does help to choose the genre . Have a look at all the other titles I've used over the years....I think this one helps more .
There's a reason I haven't been over to Merthyr for about 18 months. But coming along nicely. Must be one of, if not the current largest road project in the UK.
What it doesn't show is the damage, pollution, inconvenience and loss of habitat let alone the impact. On top of the waste of money on a scheme that wasn't needed.
The fact you have to go to rhigos to double back to aberdare is ridiculous,poor design management,they must have choose background music too,its like being on the phone to the bank.
We lived in one of the three Gurnos Cottages on the Gurnos farm in the 1960's when the original heads Of The Valleys Road was being built. Chatted to a couple of the Christiani-Shand
engineers who were openly derisive of a road they were constructing that was obsolete at the time it was being built. And that was 60 years ago.
As they put it: "Three lanes, one for going in, one for coming in---and one for dying in." And these were the Christiani-Shand engineers who had to build what their masters ordered!!
It came within a few yards of our garden back then and so my parents moved back to West Wales and I shoved-off to California. I see that the latest version is taking about half of the garden.
Very good video, and thank you.
How interesting, and thanks for your comments. Sorry you and your family were displace all those year ago.
I couldn't agree more. Plus a railway that runs north south too.
I used to tramp this road on artics back and fore to the midlands in the eighties - it's improved so much since then and when this is completed it will make a huge difference, so long as the fools in the bay don't slap a 50 on it!
I'm expecting some 50's like Clydach gorge was given, because, coming down to Cefn Coed viaduct from both hill tops feels steeper than Cydach!....They have already put 70mph over the Hirwaun junction though.
Excellent to watch. I haven't been up there for about 7 months now. How quick it changes. Thanks for sharing ATB to you.Stuart.
Thanks for your comments, its my pleasure..... I'll do another update soon once the route changes again.
Used to travel from Yorkshire to Swansea regularly and this is an improvement on the journey in the 90's. Still looks like there is a fair bit to do though. Thanks for the update
Thank you
What a great road pity it all comes to grinding halt when the 465 reaches Hereford
I use the A465 often, and yet to see workmen there, plenty of machinery though. They should work night and day to complete it. Other countries don’t take as long. It’s a nightmare!
This section has build and management has been so different from the Brynmawr to Gilwern stretch. The ‘gateway’ bridge on that section is under almost constant ‘repair’ or maintenance since it opened in Oct 2018. This results in weekend road closures ( strangely, only in the summer) to all 4 lanes of the A465 and regular traffic control on the bridge. The people of Brynmawr have had over ten years of inconvenience which are still continuing
I do feel for all those living along the route, its rotten living near such large construction and you get no compensation, the dust, the noise, the beeping...as you might have guessed there's been major construction by my home for 7 years and more to come next year
I wish they would build a dual carriageway joining north to south Wales. Living in mid Wales it takes forever to go in any direction, having to queue at every single roundabout then you've got the 20mph nonsense. We don't feel connected to either north or south Wales. For such a small country the journey times are appalling. If they want to attract investment they need a half decent roads infrastructure. To have had the same party in power for 25 years there's no excuse, and for them to come out earlier this year and publicly say there will be no new roads or improvements. Bonkers! 😢
I agree, and there is the land to do it with ease once you get north of Merthyr.....and it would benefit virtually all folk... It doesn't have to be a big Dual carriageway either a wide , good quality 2 way would do with grade separated junctions. It would pay for itself in no time with the amount of travel time saved by businesses and workers.
FVC should say to the WAG, "Now we've done that one we''ll give you a price for A465/A70 to the A55 expressway". I don't know of any other country where if you want to drive north to south, the easiest way is to go into another country because the govt. hasn't built a decent road.
Next time, don't vote Labour
Agree. I expect it’s the mountain terrain that causes the problem. It would be wonderful though.
I agree 100%. As a truck driver I often travel between Llanelli and North Wales. The company I work for has a depot in Wrexham. I have said many times, London is easier to get to than North Wales. There is a little improvement, the by-pass at Welshpool has helped a little.
Great to see real road improvements instead of patching up pot holes or not as the case may be!
Indeed.
Hope the roads smoother than what it is On the A465 by ebbw vale on the stright my nans false teeth 😁fell out driving 🚗along that stretch its so bumpy seen smoother dirt tracks .think it was laid after a few pints 🍻🍺🍷
Oh dear, made me smile, your poor Nan!
A massive civil engineering project, compared with the “missing link” one on the A417 being done by Highways England at present. I.e. completing a dual carriageway between M4 Jc 15 & M5 Jc 11A.
How are they going to navigate the Air ballon?... but the traffic is not good around the A420 at Swindon because of it atm.
@@roadsandthings Look up “A417-missing-link”, then you’re into the site with all the plans, project updates etc. Basically they’re digging into the Cotswold escarpment towards the north east of the old road, roughly following the contours, then dropping down towards the river Severn level and into the existing dual at the bottom of Crickley Hill.
Re your comment about the A420 junction - that has changed a lot in the last couple of years, with one slip closing, and a new one being inserted and a revised White Hart roundabout.
Did they install the 20MPH signage at the same time? 😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁
don't forget speed humps too
I wish they would duel the A1 to Scotland. Through Northumberland. Driving to Edinburgh means driving miles out of your way to go up the M6 or getting stuck behind a tractor or horsebox forever
It's taken a LONG time so far. Some impressive engineering for bridges in the Merthyr area of it. It is a long overdue upgrade. My hope is that it gets mostly NSL limits with reductions from that in limited sensible sections. It's a new build to a great standard so no real reason to overly impose lower limits.
(copied over from another reply) I'm expecting some 50's like Clydach gorge was given, because, coming down to Cefn Coed viaduct from both hill tops feels steeper than Cydach!....They have already put 70mph over the Hirwaun junction though. The engineering is so impressive.....I'm pleased to have vidoes here from the beginning si i can look back and see again how it was acheived.
Living near this road I and most of the residents are fed up with the noise, dust, damage to houses and constant road closures. We have been offered no compensation for all this.
(I've copied this from another relpy I've made)I do feel for all those living along the route, its rotten living near such large construction and you get no compensation, the dust, the noise, the beeping...as you might have guessed there's been major construction by my home for 7 years and more to come next year... I hope things get better soon for you.
Is it 20mph , I certainly won't be going to wales
1 trip to see the construction is worth it!!
The A47 in Norfolk and Cambridgeshire also needs dualling. From Acle to Kings Lynn, Kings Lynn to Peterborough and from Peterborough to Wansford A1.
Yes it would help in the North East...I like the slow roads so I'm happy mixing it up through Coldstream, maybe Kelso or even peebles! ....I do like the A68 .
It has hardly move on in two years. It is a 10 mile building site, is way over budget and years behind regarding finishing. It has at least another 2 years to go before being anywhere finished.
Have a look at some of my previous videos , I think they have made reasonable progress bearing in mind the complexities the terrain demands.
the thing in wales as in englsnd the south get everything and the mid and north are left out
Yes, 100% . Wales needs a North- South Motorway or a high quality 2 lane road which just has grade seperated junctions.
I think you mean, like England, the South East gets everything
The road to nowhere. Millions being spent on this which carries a fraction of the traffic routinely gridlocked on the M4 around the Brynglas tunnels
Even back in the 80's the heads of the valleys road was usually gridlocked particularly around Merthyr...it needed dualling then ... But the M4 through Newport AND Port Talbot should have been done many years ago..... it is not fit for purpose.
The M4 is a pain around Newport and with the A465 being disrupted by roadworks for over 10 years, east-west travel across South Wales has been a nightmare. It will be a relief when the A465 is finished. Perhaps the senedd will then pull its finger out and sort out the M4 after wasting millions of pounds on feasability studies before deciding birds were more important than the economy of Wales.
Agreed, and once the A465 is done then there will be the Neath bottleneck onto the M4.
Dickford said no to the m4 relief road after buying all the property's on the route. Millions down the drain.
Wow, are they still building that road? I haven't been that way in a long time, I remember when they started to fill in the missing dual carriageway sections
Indeed, It was ALL meant to be completed by around 2020 if I recall right.
@@roadsandthings If they'd done it right the first time it would have been completed mid-1960's.
@@garethdavies2538 Yes and the Dual Carraigeway from Merthyr to Brecon
I live in Neath my son lives in Crickhowell, the journey there and back is an absolute nightmare. It’s getting worse. I wish they’d hurry up! Why do roadworks take so long in this country.
It is getting easier now even with the 40mph, once the Dowlais and Cefn coed flow throughs are opened your journey will be better.
I’ve yet to see work being done whenever I use the A
Looking better, may be another year or two till it's complete
I think there will be massive improvement once the Dowlais and cefn coed grade seperations are up and running like Hirwaun is...and I rekon that could be withing a month or 2.
@@roadsandthings I see from your video that they have laid tarmac on the reconditioned old Taf Fawr bridge. Can't see the Nant Fawr one but I guess it's the same. When they have those slip roads ready for traffic it will be possible to open one side of the mainline Taf Fawr bridges.
not noticed any breakdown refuges
I was looking last time, some signs that a few may being constructed.... If so I'll focus on them in my next video
I"m lost already, "knew the old road ok". From where did the vid start?
It begins just where the Rhigos /A4059 roundabout was.... where the Dual carriageway ended and the 3 lanes began.
i travel regularly hirwaun to merthyr it takes aro und 30mins to go 9 miles it would appear the speed is going to be 50 mph WHEN finished
The Hirwaun GSJ has been designated 70mph west.... I hope more 70mph can be expected!
Will that be 20 mph road or a man with a flag walking in front of vehicles ?
He must have a whistle too
We tried to reach Bargoed, but redirected by a road sign in Welsh. We don't speak Welsh so were misdirected for 40 miles and so we went home.
Noo! yes, the signage could certainly be improved.
Is it still😢not finished its like an hour to the hospital now use to take 18 mins if you put your foot down..
Once the new junction is completed Prince Charles H will be just off the A465... that'll be good...... but in the mean time its difficult isn't it.
@roadsandthings I've put off treatment so many times now and not just me but many of my family because you just cant get there without going miles around diversion after diversion...i get lost most of the time with the shabby directions wish they would work on the hospital road first at least and keep it simple
The Merthyr to Abergavenny dualisation is a fantastic improvement ! Undoubtedly Merthyr to Hirwaun will show the same & get rid of the old " road of death " 3 lane sections.
It is, and this is an even better section.
This is amazing progress, nice video
Thanks!..... It does seem to have that almost there feeling.
Bryglass tunnel next
If only....
Won't happen until Wales stops voting Labour, which given the obsessions of the current WAG, they might.
When I moved to Swansea in 1978 work was underway to dual the A465 at Dowlais Top. 46 years later, still being dualled at the Western end (Glynneath/Resolven).
It's not really a NEW dual carriageway. It is an existing road, known as the Heads of the Valley road (Abergavenny to Hirwaun) that is mainly now dual carriageway apart from this last section, Merthyr Tydfil to Hirwaun that was previously three lane with no central reservation.
I understand what you mean , a upgrade of an existing road but the title does help to choose the genre . Have a look at all the other titles I've used over the years....I think this one helps more .
@@roadsandthings OK!
That old HoV road was lethal - "meat in the sandwich" type. This upgrade will be safe, easy, and have twice the traffic capacity.
i must be working on the wrong job its all dule or going to be
Quite an epic project. It's been great watching the progress over the years. It'll be even greater cruising along the finished road.
With some fabulous views too ( at least to start off with before the inevitable trees grow)
You could build a road across Asia in the time it’s taken to build this.
It is incredible...particularly China's road/railway building.
thanks for update coming along nicely now
No problem 👍 I'm looking forward to making the next one already!
There's a reason I haven't been over to Merthyr for about 18 months. But coming along nicely. Must be one of, if not the current largest road project in the UK.
I think your right, it could well be....
What's the music?
Josef Suk, Serenade, Op 6
Why are we waiting would be appropriate 😂
Hasn't this taken nearly 25 years? I bet the Great Wall of China didn't take so long to build
What it doesn't show is the damage, pollution, inconvenience and loss of habitat let alone the impact. On top of the waste of money on a scheme that wasn't needed.
Take all those unnecessary cones away and maybe you could describe it as dual.
Indeed!!!
The fact you have to go to rhigos to double back to aberdare is ridiculous,poor design management,they must have choose background music too,its like being on the phone to the bank.