Walters were recently awarded a £3 million contract to deliver a complex improvement scheme at the notoriously busy roundabout intersection of the A4119 and A473 in Talbot Green. The project, (awarded by Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, as part of the wider £200m RCTInvest scheme to invest in key priority areas across the county) was granted following a competitive tender, through the South East Wales Highways Framework.

The proposed improvement works included substantial traffic capacity increases to the roundabout approach lanes, adding two lanes to the north and one lane each to the south, east and west approaches. This challenging project is complicated by the relative elevation of the roundabout (in relation to the surrounding environment) and the need to minimise disruption to neighbouring infrastructure, which includes:- the Afon Clun, an established retail park, a redundant railway line, a residential area and several public footpaths.

A complex traffic management framework has been implemented, which maintains bi-directional traffic between 7am and 7pm each day, combined with elements of night working to ensure minimum disturbance to the local traffic network. The scheme also required strengthening work to the existing A4119 bridge, which required approvals from Natural Resources Wales for a temporary support structure to both span over and protect the river.

Since commencing work, Walters have implemented several value engineering proposals, with the view of reducing the cost and increasing the sustainability of the designed scheme. We have for example, endeavoured to significantly reduce the amount of construction lorry movements required during construction. This was achieved by substantially re-using material recovered on-site through a combination of reinforced earth slopes and sustainable Knotweed help and management practices.

The project commenced on site in September 2016 and works are progressing well on schedule, with completion due in July 2017.