Neath Port Talbot Council is about to start work on phase two of essential refurbishment work to the Vale of Neath Railway Bridge.
The phase one work currently being done involves the underside of the bridge and includes structural concrete repairs, painting of structural steelwork and replacement of vital bearings.
The second phase of the major bridge maintenance project begins on Monday July 8th , 2019 and the work will last for eight weeks.
Phase two will involve the removal and replacement of the carriageway surfacing, concrete verges and concrete central reserves plus safety barriers. The bridge deck will also be waterproofed.
Unfortunately due to the nature of the work it will be necessary to run the section of the A474 between the A465 and the Neath Abbey Tesco store as single lane traffic 24 hours a day for the duration of the work.
Councillor Ted Latham, Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet Member for Streetscene and Engineering said:
“We have chosen this time period to do the work as the daylight hours are longer, the weather is generally dryer (some of the operations need to be completed in dry conditions) and finally it is during the school and college summer holidays so the traffic volumes are generally lower.
“We would like to apologise for any disruption during the period of the maintenance project, but clearly, this is essential work on a vital bridge in the centre of Neath.”
Initially work will involve the traffic running in the right hand lanes, in both directions, so that both verges and both left hand lanes can be worked on.
Following this, the traffic running in the left hand lanes, in both directions, so the central reserve and both right hand lanes can be worked on.
There may also be some occasional full closures but these will be night-time only and probably Saturday or Sunday nights, if they are necessary.
