A 100-year-old bridge which forms a vital link between two Neath Port Talbot communities has been successfully repaired.

Pontwalby Bridge in the shadow of the A465, connecting the communities of Glynneath and Pontwalby by road, needed repair work to keep it operational.

Without the bridge, people in the two communities would be separated by a long diversionary route.

During the £100,000 repair project, carried out for Neath Port Talbot Council by contractors Ian Davies Plant, traffic was able to use the bridge at all times thanks to a temporary traffic light system.

The underside of the bridge underwent extensive concrete repairs to ensure it would be operational for generations to come.

Scaffolding was set up on the bridge on October 2nd 2019, with the work going on from October 14th to December 6th with the project finally finishing with scaffold removal on December 20th, 2019.

Cllr Ted Latham, Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet Member for Streetscene and Engineering, said:

“This bridge provides a vital link between Pontwalby and Glynneath and I’m delighted this work has now been successfully completed.

“A bridge of this age will obviously need repairs and maintenance from time to time and I was glad we were able to keep it open while the necessary work went ahead underneath.”