Heads of the Valleys Road, Brynmawr (A465) (Light case study)

Where

The A465 road is a main arterial connection linking Swansea in west Wales with the Midlands. It also forms part of a toll-free route from England into Wales, and to the west Wales ferry ports to Ireland.

The existing three lane carriageway, between Brynmawr and Gilwern, was constructed in the 1960s, and traffic flow and speeds were restricted by road width, gradient, at-grade junctions and limited opportunities for safe overtaking.

Safety in particular had become a significant issue, with 31 personal injury collisions—including two fatalities being recorded between July 2011 and June 2012.

Road usage projections estimated that traffic flows on the road would rise to above 22,000 average annual daily traffic movements in 2020; with the advised maximum for single carriageway roads set at 21,000, it was clear that the road needed to be upgraded and improved.

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