Project Outline

County Borough Council and its main contractor Walters are delighted to announce that the £5 million pound improvement scheme at the Pwll-Y-Pant roundabout in Caerphilly has been completed.

The Pwll-Y-Pant junction is a ‘key strategic location’ on the A469 north of Caerphilly town centre which connects Rhymney Valley towns such as Ystrad Mynach and Bargoed to Caerphilly, Cardiff and Newport. The completed works will increase capacity on the roundabout for this section of the county borough’s strategic highway improving journey time, reliability for bus services, encourage public transport use and reduce traffic travelling through Caerphilly town which will improve air quality. The contract was undertaken as NEC Engineering and Construction Contract Option B and works commenced in October 2017.

Project Delivery

The Highway improvement work to the A468/A469 Pwll-Y-Pant Roundabout included the following:-

Full carriageway reconstruction.

Carriageway widening / additional lanes including surfacing :-

• Pontygwindy Road Northbound approach
• Trecenydd (A469) Westbound exit
• Trecenydd (A469) Eastbound approach
• Llanbradach (A469) Southbound approach
• Bedwas (A468) Eastbound exit
• Bedwas (A468) Westbound approach

Drainage works including diversions and new installations.

New footways throughout the development including a new link from Pontygwindy Road to Sir Alfred Owen Way.

Traffic signals :-

• Removal of existing signalised crossing (temp signalised crossing provided)
• Installation of new signalised crossing
• Installation of new signalised gyratory and pedestrian crossing

Street lighting, traffic signs and road markings.

Statutory Undertaker Diversions :-

• 11kv WPD Diversions (x3)
• LV WPD Diversions (x2)
• New WPD LV Supplies to street lighting and traffic signal feeder pillars
• 250mm WWU Medium Pressure Gas Main Diversion
• BT Overhead Cable Grounded
• BT Underground Cable Diversion

Four new retaining wall structures.

Environmental management

The Walters team ensured that Tree Protection zones were established and maintained throughout the development, maintaining the locations look and feel for future road users and people living and working nearby. During the pre-construction period background noise monitoring was also carried out and this was continually monitored by an independent specialist throughout the construction period. The Project Team also  identified high risk activities and areas requiring particular ecological mitigation and ensured controls were put in place to preserve the existing environment. A site waste management plan was also established and put in place.

Client Testimonial 

“The Pwll-Y-Pant Roundabout Improvement Scheme is one of the most high profile and contentious highway improvement projects ever undertaken in Caerphilly. It has required an enormous amount of work by Walters working closely with the Council and engaging with the local community and wider stakeholders to minimise disruption and optimise programme.

The project on the whole has been especially well run by Carl and his team and they have helped us to overcome a number of challenges through their flexible and proactive approach. They took it upon themselves to bring proposals forward to work additional hours throughout the week, at night, at the weekend and even on bank holidays to maintain our programme when design and programme amendments, that were predominantly outside their control, indicated an unacceptable slippage to the completion date. They worked proactively to help resolve design issues and manage our risks.

Their transparent approach to managing change was well received. I could not recommend them  highly enough as a well-resourced contractor who plan right and try to ensure that as a team we deliver first time. This type of work really is ‘bread and butter’ to Walters and we would be more than happy to work with them again on future schemes.”

Marcus Lloyd Pennaeth Isadeiledd | Head of Infrastructure, Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Caerffili | Caerphilly County Borough Council