Bridge demolition heralds regeneration of Abertillery

Jun 12 2008 by Louise Dicks, Gwent Gazette

TOWNSPEOPLE in Abertillery have been thanked for their co-operation during the removal of the old Foundry Bridge by a giant crane.

The 60-year-old bridge, which was removed to make way for a new bridge as part of the multi-million-pound regeneration of Abertillery, was successfully dismantled in six days.

Huge pre-stressed concrete beams, each measuring around 100ft and weighing several tonnes, were lifted from the piers of the old bridge structure and lowered into a concrete crusher.

Blaenau Gwent Council and contractors Balfour Beatty will now start accommodation and abutment works ready to house the new steel-structured bridge.

The temporary diversion of traffic through the town centre was necessary because the junction of Alma Street with the bridge was closed during the crane operation.

Traffic lights were installed to provide safe two-way movement of vehicles along High Street. These have now been removed and usual one-way traffic operation restored.

Both the council and the contractors thanked people in the town for their co-operation with the traffic and movement restrictions which were essential for health and safety.

Just over £8m is due to be ploughed into Abertillery over the next two years to regenerate the town.

As well as the new bridge, the council also have plans to upgrade the current multi-storey car park and increase traffic flow into the town, and create a new car park for the Metropole Theatre, made from the stonework of a demolished church.

Grant funding has also been secured from the Heads of the Valleys Social Regeneration Fund programme to assist in the refurbishment of commercial properties in Abertillery.

Principle projects officer Nick Landers said: “The regeneration process has already begun in Abertillery but we have a lot more planned.

“When the foundry bridge work has been carried out, we want to develop an area called Foundry Square at the entrance of the town.

“When this is done we want the regeneration to roll out throughout the town.”