A40 Brecon bypass

7 March 2022

Dear

Request for Information – ATISN 16042

Thank you for your request for information dated 1 February regarding the A40 Brecon bypass.  You asked for the following information:

1. How much is the work costing to shore up the embankment on the Brecon bypass?
2. On what basis was the work commissioned?
3. Who is the main contractor?
4. When is the work planned to finish?
5. Has the main contractor carried out any other work on the A40 bypass in the last 4 years?
6. Why has the Brecon bypass been the subject of almost continual work in the last 4 years?

Our response

I can confirm that we hold information in relation to your request which has been enclosed. 

1. The contract award figure for the main slope repair including slope drainage works is £846,491.00. This work has been contracted to take place between 27/01/2021 and 17/03/2022.  It is expected the overall scheme cost since the landslip occurred will be in the region of £1,969,000.
2. The work was commissioned via a competitive tender using NEC4 Engineering and Construction Contract Option A.
3. Alun Griffiths Contractors Limited.(AGCL)
4. Planned completion is 17/03/2022.
5. Yes, AGCL are a framework partner and part of the supply chain for the North and Mid Wales Trunk Road Agent (NMWTRA) who manage the trunk road network, including the A40 Bypass, on behalf of the Welsh Government.

Starting on site in November 2019, AGCL were commissioned to install 4km of double sided barrier in the central reserve of the Brecon Bypass. This was a planned upgrade and included extensive highway drainage refurbishment and redesign of the street lighting at each end central reserve. It was completed in September 2021 although the work was not continuous principally due to the landslip in during Storm Dennis in February 2020.

After the landslip occurred, AGCL were involved in the preliminary investigation and enabling works in the vicinity of the landslip, facilitating the ground investigation, traffic management and tree clearance as part of their framework role and the fact that they had resources nearby.

Complex and extensive works are needed to rectify the damage caused by Storm Dennis and future proof the site to make it resilient to further storm damage, hence the costs.

6. The Welsh Government has a statutory duty to maintain highways and sympathises with the situation in which local residents and businesses find themselves when works are necessary in their vicinity. It is appreciated that such works can cause disruption to those living or working alongside road schemes, and every effort is made to complete the work as soon as possible

We acknowledge that there has been extensive works on the A40 Bypass in recent years; this has been a mix of planned works and reactive works.

Next steps

If you are dissatisfied with the Welsh Government’s handling of your request, you can ask for an internal review within 40 working days of the date of this response.  Requests for an internal review should be addressed to the Welsh Government’s Freedom of Information Officer at:

Information Rights Unit, Welsh Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ

or Email: Freedom.ofinformation@gov.wales.  Please remember to quote the ATISN reference number above.   

You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner.  The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:  Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.  However, please note that the Commissioner will not normally investigate a complaint until it has been through our own internal review process.

Yours sincerely