A465 finally reopened after £2bn and 23 years

The A465 Heads of the Valleys road in south Wales has finally been fully reopened after roadworks that started in 2002 were completed on 30 May.

The latest and last section of the improvement scheme – which spans from Dowlais Top to Hirwaun – had the contraflow system removed last Friday after work to expand the road into a dual carriageway finished.

While some parts of the road already featured two lanes in both directions, congestion and frequent collisions caused repeated issues on other parts of the route.

The project has seen more than 40 new bridges and 12 new junctions built, as well as nearly nine miles of walking and cycling routes in the latest section.

While the official cost for the project from the Welsh government was £590m, the BBC has reported that, due to the funding being based on a Mutual Investment Model (MIM), the Welsh government will have to pay a ‘non-recoverable VAT’ that will bring the total cost to £1.4bn.

The BBC state that 'the entire cost of the whole 23-year, 28-mile scheme will be about £2bn when everything is included'.

Speaking to the BBC, Wales' transport minister Ken Skates said: ‘In 50 years' time, experts will look back and say the single biggest thing the Welsh government has done to raise the prospects of Heads of the Valleys communities is building this road.’

He added that this ‘isn't just about moving people and goods around,’ but it was also about ‘generating jobs, prosperity, opportunities and better connecting and benefiting communities across the region’.

Image credit: Shutterstock @Richard Whitcombe