Caerphilly 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.

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.

Working alongside and involving the local community

Walters throughout the project worked closely both with Caerphilly Council and the local community. At the very start, and in anticipation of any potential disruption, we organised three “Meet the Team” events.  At these events  members of the public had the opportunity to discuss the improvement works with members of the project team and these were also attended by the Caerphilly County Council team. Throughout this lengthy project we issued weekly newsletters and web updates which were a key element of our communication process with the local residents and business community.

In addition, a number of positive changes to the contract were agreed in order to limit disruption and ease traffic congestion. The original contract was planned to be completed in October 2018 however the agreed changes did impact the sequencing of works which lengthened the programme with the works completed in November 2018.

As part of their ongoing  commitment to communities, Walters were delighted to be able to help the Welsh Pony Rescue and Rehoming Charitable Trust in Caerphilly. Improvements were made to the local yard and stables and the team undertook earthworks and the placing of new sub base to the compound, created a new stoned footpath along their field boundary and constructed a slabbed area adjacent to stables plus we built the Trust a new holding pen.

Talking about the project as a whole, Contract Director Nick Rolfe of Walters, said “The scheme threw up a number of extremely difficult issues and the Project Team, made up of both Walters and Caerphilly Council, responded with a positive and proactive approach on what become a very challenging project. We would like to thank the community for their patience and trust that they will now enjoy the benefits of the completed works.”