£2bn Heads of the Valleys Road project officially opens
£2bn Heads of the Valleys Road project officially opens
One of the UK’s largest and most complex infrastructure schemes has officially reached completion, as the Welsh Government celebrates the opening of the final phase of the £2 billion Heads of the Valleys Road upgrade programme.
The long-awaited project, spanning more than a decade, aims to transform connectivity, economic opportunity, and quality of life for communities across South Wales and beyond.
The final segment of the scheme—Section 5&6 from Dowlais to Hirwaun, valued at £1.4bn—has delivered 17.7km of new dual carriageway, 6km of new side roads, more than 14km of active travel routes, and significant supporting infrastructure including 32 new bridges, 38 culverts, and 28 retaining walls.
Funded by the Welsh Government, the project is central to a broader vision of delivering economic prosperity to some of the most deprived areas in Wales by improving links between the Valleys, South and West Wales, and strategic routes to the English Midlands and European ports.
Economic and community impact
The project has already created 2,200 new jobs, with nearly half going to people from disadvantaged or long-term unemployed backgrounds in the local area. More than £400 million has been injected into the local supply chain, stimulating economic growth across the region.
Ken Skates, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, hailed the project as a landmark for Wales:
“Delivering better transport and fixing our roads is a priority for this government. This complex and ambitious project is a showcase of how infrastructure investment can create jobs, support skills, improve accessibility, and also deliver real environmental benefits.”
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Investment in skills and sustainability
Beyond roads, the scheme has delivered significant community and environmental benefits:
- 246 apprenticeships, 30% from the Valleys region
- Over 24,000 hours of school STEM engagement
- 86 educational site visits to inspire future engineers and construction professionals
- Planting of 120,000 trees and 8,000 plants, with dedicated habitats for species including the Marsh Fritillary Butterfly, bats, dormice, and crested newts
The road also forms a vital part of the South Wales Metro strategy, enhancing transport links across the Cardiff and Swansea Bay City Regions, and supporting long-term sustainable travel goals.
A model for multi-level impact
Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford emphasized the broad legacy of the investment, saying: “This project has done more than just improve transport. It has invested in people, created opportunities, and left a legacy in training and education. Our focus was not just on concrete and tarmac, but on building skills and supporting communities.”
As the upgraded road opens to the public, government officials hope that the initial disruption experienced by local residents will soon be outweighed by the long-term benefits of faster, safer, and more reliable travel.
The Heads of the Valleys scheme now stands as a flagship example of how targeted infrastructure investment can deliver holistic regional development—not only strengthening transport links but also supporting jobs, education, and environmental resilience.
