Work will be done in Pontardawe as part of a £4m plan across Neath Port Talbot.

The borough-wide initiative, greenlit by Neath Port Talbot Council, will see an array of engineering, maintenance, and other developments, to improve and maintain highways across the county.

Pontardawe has several projects such as £100,000 drainage improvement work at Gwyrhyd Rd, Rhyd-y-Fro and £40,000 drainage channel improvement works at Gellifowy Rd.

Glais Road in Alltwen will also have £40,000 spent on carriageway resurfacing.

The operation will include bridge strengthening (£300,000), drainage (£300,000), carriageway resurfacing (£1,852,000), footway resurfacing (£143,000), road surface dressing (£260,000), minor works such as traffic signs, barriers, traffic regulation orders (£445,000), delivery of the highway tree management strategy (£170,000) and further highway maintenance measures (£587,000). These figures show the commitment of the council to improve safety and appearance, to benefit both residents and visitors alike.

The funding for this work comes from numerous sources, such as the council's reserved capital for improving towns, valleys, and villages, Welsh Government, and other council sources including planned maintenance revenue funding.

Councillor Scott Jones, cabinet member for Streetscene, commented on the overall cost of the project and the importance of these developments.

He cited the project as evidence of the magnitude of the task at hand in maintaining infrastructure across the borough.

Some of the top priority projects for the 2024/25 Highway Works Programme include a £75,000 resurfacing at the Afan Way junction in Aberavon, £60,000 in concrete repairs at the Dulais River Bridge in Aberdulais, £391,000 for slope stabilisation and resurfacing in Afan Valley’s Bridge Street to Dunraven Street Lane.

Various locations across the Neath Port Talbot borough, including Baglan, Briton Ferry West, Bryn&Cwmavon, Coedffranc Central, Crynant, Margam, Neath East, Port Talbot, Resolven, Tonna, and Sandfields W, are all allocated funds to undergo essential infrastructure improvement projects.

In conclusion, these plans signify a big step forward in the council’s efforts for a safer and cleaner county.

The £4m initiative allows for robust improvements to be made to highways, footpaths, bridges and roads, helping to ensure efficient transport links and a safer community in Neath Port Talbot.