Repairs to Rhigos Mountain road are, overall, progressing well. The works are critical to future proofing this key route. As the major mountainside repairs are entering their final stages with a series of intricate works, the contractor is making constant progress with the complex works programme in a challenging environment.
Without this work the council has made clear it was possible that the rockface could deteriorate further, requiring an emergency closure over a much longer period.
The first two phases are on target to be completed on programme and the overall project remains on track to be completed by the contractual completion date.
As a result of the ongoing complexities experienced in one zone since repair works commenced, the contractor has advised this essential road closure will continue into early November (estimated at 7 to 10 days) to ensure the safe completion of works.
The mountain road between Treherbert and Rhigos was closed from July 22 as a necessary measure to ensure safety throughout the large remediation scheme. This is essential to rectify damage from a previous wildfire at the Treherbert end of the road which caused major damage across a significant area of the mountainside and its netting and fencing.
Rhigos Mountain Road closure – Frequently Asked Questions
A spokesperson for Rhondda Cynon Taf Council said:
“From the outset of this closure the Council has been clear that the Rhigos Mountain Road remediation work is a complex project, dealing with huge infrastructure in a very challenging environment on the mountainside with specialist contractors engaged. It is therefore difficult to accurately predict exact completion timescales. At the start of the work, we had hoped it could be completed by the end of October, but also planned to go beyond this if required.
“Today’s update does not represent a lengthy delay to the scheme. Work is ahead of its contractual programme date, but the site activity will likely continue into early November. We appreciate that residents will be disappointed by this news. Our specialist contractors are very committed to the scheme and have worked hard to make the good progress seen to date.
“The new estimated completion timescale is down to several contributing factors including weather conditions, very complex drilling conditions due to the nature of the geology, the quantity of loose material on the one phase of the rock-face, and limited site access. Maintaining the rockface’s stability during drilling work requires a steady approach, ensuring the risk of rockfall is safely controlled and that site staff are kept safe at all times.
“We’d like to thank local communities for their continued patience and cooperation, and we absolutely understand the closure’s disruption. However, we must get this project fully completed to ensure the mountain road is available and safe into the future, which is what we all want. We’ll communicate further details about the opening arrangements once they become clearer in the weeks ahead.”
A summary of the ongoing works, and what has been achieved since the previous report in September, has been included below:
Works progress update – week commencing Monday, October 7
All 28 foundations and posts for the large rockfall attenuators have now been installed across zones one and two of the works site. This is essentially the installation of a large technical fencing system to catch rockfall, starting from the crest of the rockface and continuing right down to the bottom, adjacent to the road. Associated cables and anchors are currently being installed, while assembly of the attenuators is ongoing with mesh panels recently erected.
Extensive rock bolt testing has been completed across zones one and two, while minor earthworks and clearance work is also ongoing in these areas.
Moving onto zone three, installation of a series of active and passive mesh is complete. The foundations for the rockfall attenuator at this location have been finished, with assembly of the attenuator itself scheduled to follow on. Preparatory work is underway for the installation of a rockfall barrier – while works on its foundations are planned for the next stages of the process.
