Stronger, wider feeder pipe footbridge near Abercynon underway after storm damage

The Council has shared the latest progress on the replacement of the Feeder Pipe Footbridge near Abercynon. The project is moving ahead on schedule, causing minimal disruption to the local area.

Construction began in mid-May 2024 following planning approval in April. The new footbridge, which spans the River Taff between Abercynon and Quakers Yard, on the border of Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr Tydfil, connects Alexandra Place and Tram Road Side.

The original bridge suffered significant damage during Storm Dennis, leading to the removal of the bridge deck and parapets for safety reasons. The replacement structure is designed to be wider and more storm-resistant, featuring a steel deck instead of the original timber. Maintenance work will also be carried out on the existing abutments and piers.

Project progress update – September 2024

Early activity by contractor Balfour Beatty saw the site offices and welfare facilities set up, while an access track to the footbridge was constructed on the northern side of the river. Following this, piling work was completed to support the bridge’s northern abutment. The excavation and installation of reinforcement to both the northern and southern abutments, and the north-side pier, were completed – along with a first phase of concrete pour activity.

Recent work has turned attention to constructing a stable and level platform to support a large crane off Tram Road Side, which will be required for future lifting operations. This has included importing around 1,500 tonnes of material to the works site, and erecting a scaffolding attached to the existing bridge piers.

The crane will soon be installed on site, enabling materials to be lifted into the river to undertake scour repairs to the rockface that supports the footway on the southern side of the river. It will also enable the bridge’s central pipe to be lifted from the structure in sections.

The two other pipes on the bridge will remain in place, in line with the planning consent. Removal of the central pipe is critical to ensure a suitable connection can be made to the existing piers for the new structure. The tops of the piers will then be modified to accommodate the bridge supports and connections, and construction of the northern and southern abutments will be completed.

The new bridge will be lifted into place later this year, having been constructed away from the site. The temporary crane platform will then be removed, while work to reconstruct and resurface footways will take place. The overall project is on course for completion in early 2025, as was originally programmed.

Councillor Andrew Morgan OBE, Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Investment, said: “Important progress has been made on the Feeder Pipe Footbridge replacement since work started in May. Our contractor has taken good advantage of the summer months to ensure the project is progressing on schedule – to reinstate the link over the river between Abercynon and Quakers Yard during the New Year.

“We continue to welcome vital Welsh Government funding for Storm Dennis repair schemes, through a dedicated funding programme for Rhondda Cynon Taf worth £3.61m in 2024/25. The major schemes to replace the Castle Inn Footbridge in Treforest, and to repair White Bridge in Pontypridd, were completed within this year’s programme – which has followed multi-million pound support in each year since the unprecedented storm event in 2020.

“Importantly, the new Feeder Pipe Footbridge is designed to be more resilient to future flood events, with all of our repair schemes considering the future threat that is posed by climate change. The next main activity on site is to install a large crane that will enable materials to be lifted to and from the bridge – and, later in the project, it will lift the replacement bridge into place.

“There has been minimal local disruption throughout the work so far, and this is expected to continue due to the bridge being located away from residential properties – and with no major traffic management needed and the majority of footpaths remaining open. I’d like to thank the community for their continued cooperation as this scheme progresses towards completion in early 2025.”