A cycleway and pedestrian route in the Cynon Valley will close for around a month while bridge repairs are carried out.
The Iron Tram Bridge near Robertstow was in a poor condition before Storm Dennis, and received further damage during the unprecedented weather and subsequent storm events in February 2020. You can see photos of the damage that the storm caused across south Wales here.
Since then security fencing has been placed around the structure, and its surrounding area, while its public right of way over the river remains closed.
Officials said the first stage of repairs will begin this week. The work will also see the Ancient Monument restored off site and then reinstalled next year.
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Due to the bridge’s cultural and historical significance, the council has worked with external consultants to design a" sympathetic restoration scheme" – for which Scheduled Monument consent was received from Cadw this year.
The first stage, which goes up to November, includes partial demolition at the top of the bridge abutments. This will be followed by repairs to the main bridge beams off site, with no presence on site at the bridge’s location up to spring 2022.
The final stage will include the reinstallation of the bridge and abutments, and the re-opening of the public right of way across the structure next summer.
Council officials said that from Monday, October 4, people using the shared footpath and cycleway may experience minor delays while accessing the route. They will be directed by a banksman located at the site.
Then from Friday, October 15, the cycleway will be closed for around a month to allow the safe removal of the bridge beams and abutment repairs. An alternative route for pedestrians and cyclists will be signposted via Mill Street, Bell Street and Meirion Street.
The route will then be re-opened following the removal of the bridge, as the repair work to the structure takes place away from the site. It will also remain open for the upcoming months until the bridge is ready to be returned and reinstalled during 2022.
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Rhondda Cynon Taf Council leader Andrew Morgan said: “In order to carry out the work, there will be some unavoidable disruption over the coming weeks to users of the shared footpath near to the bridge.
“The council will keep residents up to date with the ongoing progress with the Iron Tram Bridge restoration over the coming weeks and months, as we work hard to repair and restore this Ancient Monument.”
Mr Morgan added that maintaining structures remained a priority for the council, which is responsible for more than 1,500 bridges, culverts and walls across the county area.
He added: "Significant funding for this was allocated in the £25.025m Highways Capital Programme for 2021/22, while cabinet last week agreed additional one-off allocations of £500,000 each to Highways and Parks structures. This is on top of the major funding for Storm Dennis infrastructure repairs in communities."
