Historic Landscape Characterisation
Merthyr Tydfil

056 A465(T) Heads of the Valleys Road

HLCA 56 A465(T) Heads of the Valleys Road Transport corridor; mid-20th century road and bridge construction.



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(Photo: GGAT Merthyr 056)

A465 (T) Heads of the Valleys Road character area: route of mid 20th century arterial road.

Summary

A transport corridor with important examples of mid 20th century bridge design.

Historical background

The historic landscape area of the A465(T) Heads of the Valleys Road comprises the east-west road link constructed in 1964. Important features include the three contemporary road bridges carrying A465(T) Road over rivers and streams, one of which has been subsequently altered. Built by Rendel, Palmer and Tritton (Consultant architects Alex Gordon & Partners), of contrasting design in reinforced concrete, two with twin parabolic arched ribs and one of three spans cantilevered from two piers, these won civic awards in 1968.
Sources
For further information please contact the Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust at this address. Link to the Countryside Council for Wales website at www.ccw.gov.uk or Cadw at www.cadw.wales.gov.uk