THE final design for the scheme to dual the A465 Heads of the Valleys Road between Gilwern and Brynmawr includes a split-level carriageway.

Work to turn the final stretch of the A465 into a dual carriageway is due to begin in late 2014 and completed by 2017, creating 150 jobs.

The construction firm Costain Limited will expand the 6.4km stretch through the Clydach Gorge, which is considered one of South Wales’ most important environmentally and ecologically sensitive areas. The total cost of the section is £205 million.

The design was unveiled at the first of three exhibitions yesterday and follows an 18- month consultation which included surveys, questionnaires and meetings with local organisations and residents.

The Welsh Government said the feedback has been taken into account and that it has answered the strong local call for better access to Gilwern by including a partial junction on the eastbound carriageway at Main Road.

The design includes a 50mph speed limit, improved junctions and viewpoints of the Gorge, extra lay-bys at Sale Yard and Clydach Gorge and a safer cycling crossing at Brynmawr. The split-level carriageway means the road level of each carriageway is at a different level, separated by a retaining wall used between the two to support the road at the higher level.

One example is the A470 between Pontypridd and Abercynon at Cilfynydd.

This will minimise the effect on the cave network.

The Tredegar to Dowlais section was opened to traffic in 2004, while the Abergavenny to Gilwern was finished in 2008. Dowlais Top to the A470 junction and to Hirwaun is due to be finished by 2020.

Work on the stretch between Brynmawr and Tredegar started in January, with a completion date of 2015.

The design is on display at Clydach Village Hall between 2pm and 8pm today and at The Old School Community Centre, Gilwern between 2pm and 8pm on Thursday.

COMMENT: The road to job creation

THE most exciting part of the proposals for the continued dualling of the Heads of the Valleys road is the 150 longterm jobs it will create.

This newspaper has long argued the case for building projects being a key part of Britain’s economic recovery.

The proposal for the Gilwern to Brynmawr section of the Heads of the Valleys project is a case in point.

The £150 million scheme will expand the 6.4km stretch of road with an innovative split-level carriageway.

This kind of public construction scheme is just what is needed to help pull the nation out of recession and we would hope to see the governments in Cardiff and Westminster approving more civic projects.

The planned route through the Clydach Gorge has environmental and ecological implications but we are sure these can be overcome.

Job creation via schemes such as this is vitally important to Britain’s economy.

As the proposal – due to start late next year and be completed by 2017 – goes out to public consultation we hope people in the vicinity see the bigger picture.

Of course they need to be consulted about a major project on their doorsteps, but better access to places like Gilwern will be one of the benefits of the scheme.

Enhancing this stretch of road is good for transport links in this part of Wales and good for jobs. It has our backing.