The A465 Heads of the Valley project starts to pick up pace
Work on site for the major South Wales road project, the A465 Heads of the Valley scheme, has now started to pick up pace. TMS have been involved with this project since being appointed as FCC Construction’s Road Safety Audit provider back in 2023. TMS were commissioned to carry out the Stage 3, Post Construction, Road Safety Audits for this project. Since early Summer, our auditors have regularly been to site, carrying out both Interim and full Stage 3 Road Safety Audits on various junctions and mainlines around Hirwaun. The A465 Heads of the Valleys Section 5 and 6 road improvement scheme is a 11-mile (17.7 km) dual carriageway that will run from Hirwaun to Dowlais Top.
The project aims to improve traffic flow, safety, and overtaking opportunities. The improved road will complete the last dual carriageway “missing link” along the A465, which forms part of the strategic road network connecting the Midlands to Wales. TMS has previously worked in the side road improvement schemes that facilitated the construction of the mainline.
Due to the complexity of the project, we have decided to phase the Stage 3 Road Safety Audits and so far, have carried out audits on the grade separated junction at Hirwaun and the associated mainline. Our input is to identify any potential road safety hazards with the built scheme and suggest recommendations to reduce the risk of collisions. We have already made numerous suggestions to improve road safety and reduce the risk of injury to road users, and it is satisfying to see these measures being implemented. We look forward to continuing our work on this project until its estimated completion date of mid-2025.
Harminder Aulak, Road Safety Audit Team Leader for the project, said:
“We are delighted to be involved in the biggest road infrastructure project ever commissioned by the Welsh Government, which has an estimated cost of £590M. It is also considered one of the most challenging projects due to the existing complex topography requiring the construction of viaducts, rock cuttings, several grade-separated junctions and extensive environmental mitigation measures”.
Here at TMS, our team of safety auditors have extensive knowledge and experience in carrying out Road Safety Audits on all types of highway schemes, including major road schemes like this. If you would like more information on our involvement in this project, or to discuss your requirements for a Road Safety Audit, please email Lorna Styring or call us on +44 (0)24 7669 0900