Infrastructure

Velta is working on behalf of Envolve to install new water supplies for Dŵr Cymru/Welsh Water as part of Welsh Government’s £590m project to dual the A465 between Dowlais Top and Hirwaun – the Heads of the Valleys.

Phase 1 included a 46m-long section of pipe crossing the A465. Demonstrating our ability to react positively and proactively to challenges on-site, when the design of the pipe was changed from a depth of 2m to a depth of 4m, our engineers quickly identified suitable temporary works and groundwater management plans to keep our teams safe during construction.

The pipe crossed below the new section of dual carriageway before travelling down a steep batter, requiring 4 new manholes to be installed. Additionally, the new service was located adjacent to a medium-pressure gas main and brittle water main. Working in accordance with our permit-to-dig process, existing services were located by hand and protected throughout the works.

Works were undertaken within a pre-booked road closure to minimise disruption to road users and the wider strategic road network. Starting work at 8 pm on Friday evening, Velta’s experienced team had completed all the work to the highest quality standards and fully reinstated the carriageway by 1 am on Sunday morning – over 24 hours early.

Phase 2 involved installing 200m of rising main along local roads from a new pumping station at Park Industrial Estate. Works were undertaken under localised lane closures and two-way traffic lights to minimise disruption to businesses and industrial estate users.

Phase 3 of the works was another crossing of the A465 continuing through farmland to the south. The 3m-deep, 60m-long pipe run was installed during another pre-booked weekend road closure. Starting at 8 pm Friday, the A465 road crossing was completed and fully reinstated by 7 am the next day.

Maximising the efficiency of our teams on site, we used the rest of the working period to complete the rest of the new pipework through the farmland completing the whole job 10 hours in advance of the road reopening to traffic.