Heads of the Valley upgrade gets thumbs up from FTA

Thursday 27 October 2011

The Welsh Government's proposals to inject £150m into dualling a crucial section of the A465, known as the Heads of the Valley, will reduce journey time and improve road safety, says the Freight Transport Association (FTA).

Ian Gallagher, FTA's Policy Manager for Wales, welcomed the news. He said:

“By dualling this notoriously poor stretch of what is a crucial trade route linking east and west, the government has addressed a concern that we have had for some time.

“The road between Gilwern and Brynmawr includes some very steep sections, by allowing motorists to overtake slower moving road users, like lorries, and by ultimately reducing congestion on this well-used trunk road by increasing capacity, there will be road safety and journey time benefits to be had.”

Ian Jarman of FTA member, Llanelli-based Owens Road Services agrees:

“Infrastructure improvements are great news and show forward thinking by the Welsh Government, as it helps stimulate the local economy and brings inwards investment into the region. This is only the next stage and the whole of the A465 dualling project, which is scheduled for completion by 2020, will assist Owens objectives of delivering goods safely, efficiently and reliably.”

FTA Press Office

01892 552255
press.office@fta.co.uk