We have converted the A465 from Dowlais Top to Hirwaun to 2 lanes in each direction.
Overview
What we did
We have improved an 11-mile (17.7km) section of the A465 between Hirwaun and Dowlais Top.
The road is now a 70mph dual carriageway with 6 junctions. It was previously a 3-lane single carriageway.
The main work started in May 2021, and the road officially re-opened on 30 May 2025.
This completes our £2 billion commitment to upgrade 40km of the A465 Heads of the Valleys road to dual carriageway.
Work included:
- 17.7km of new dual carriageway
- 6km of new sideroads
- more than 14km of active travel routes
- 32 new bridges
- 28 new retaining walls
- 38 culverts
Environmental works included:
- planting 120,000 trees and shrubs
- creating new habitats for great crested newts, dormice, lapwing and bats
- planting ‘devil’s bit scabious’ to encourage the conservation of marsh fritillary butterflies
- installing over 90 bat boxes
- building crossing points under the road, to help wildlife move around safely
- promoting environmental awareness in local schools
The project also boosted the local economy by creating over 2,000 jobs and supporting contractors and suppliers.
Why we did it
We wanted to:
- improve traffic flow and make it safer to overtake
- make the road safer, especially around junctions and areas with poor visibility
- improve access to key services, jobs and markets supporting inward investment to areas like the Ebbw Vale Enterprise Zone.
This work has been about generating jobs, prosperity, opportunities and better connecting and benefiting communities across the region.
The local supply chain has seen approximately £400m of spend during construction in Wales with over £230m within the Heads of the Valleys region.
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Timetable
Public exhibitions: end 2015
Publication of draft orders and environmental statement: summer 2017
Publication of draft supplementary orders and supplementary environmental statement: early 2018
Public local inquiry: spring 2018
Minister's decision: early 2019
Making of Orders: spring 2019
Publish draft Supplementary Orders (No.1): autumn 2019
Making Supplementary Orders (No.1): summer 2020
Publish draft Supplementary Orders (No.2): summer 2020
Procure contractor: autumn 2020
Start of construction: early 2021
Completion of new section of trunk road: mid 2025
How we consulted
We consulted on improvements to the A465 between Abergavenny and Hirwaun in 1994 as part of the process to develop the preferred route for the whole project.
In December 2015 we held public information session highlighting options to improve the 1990s design.
We held a series of presentations to local interest groups and meetings with local landowners, businesses and other key stakeholders. These helped us understand how the proposals fit with local priorities, objectives and policies.
We held a series of draft orders exhibitions in August 2017.
We held a public local Inquiry in April and May 2018.