www.cymru.gov.uk

A477 Trunk Road St Clears to Red Roses Improvement

Road opening by Edwina Hart MBE CStJ AM, Minister for Economy, Science and Transport, 16 April 2014

I welcome the completion of the A477 St Clears to Red Roses improvement project,which includes bypasses for the communities of Llanddowror and Red Roses. Itscompletion makes a significant contribution to the Welsh Government’s aim of ensuringthat our infrastructure provides an adequate level of service for journeys within Wales,as well as providing links to destinations.

Ensuring that key projects such as this one are delivered has been a key priority for theWelsh Government. In my July 2013 written statement to Assembly Members Iemphasised that transport has a critical role to play in improving Wales’ economiccompetitiveness and provides enhanced access to jobs and services. I also stated that ‘Iwill continue to deliver key schemes already under construction,’ of which A477 StClears to Red Roses Improvement is one.

The project provides a key improvement to the A477 trunk road which is part of theTrans European Road Network and is an important strategic route in south Wales andwith the A40 trunk road provides the land bridge linking the rest of the UK and Europeto west Wales and Ireland via the ferry ports at Pembroke Dock and Fishguard. Thisproject and the recently completed improvement at Penblewin Slebech on the A40, arepart of a programme of targeted investment in infrastructure that was announced inthe National Transport Plan 2010, and will improve accessibility to the Haven WaterwayEnterprise Zone. There will also be improved access to the tourist centres of Tenby,Saundersfoot and south Pembrokeshire, which should assist their local economy. Overallthe project will improve reliability, journey time, safety and local environmental issuesbetween key settlements in west Wales and enhance international connectivity thushelping to meet Wales’ wider economic needs in a cost effective manner.

This project provides improved overtaking opportunity using a wide single 2+1 roadlayout which will improve journey time reliability and road safety. I am pleased that thedesign and construction work, undertaken by the SRB Civil Engineering team, hasdelivered the project successfully. I am also impressed by the measures taken by theteam to deliver the project with minimal environmental impact using sustainableconstruction techniques and best practice.

I am aware that the team have taken their responsibility to the community very seriouslyand that communications were maintained with the local community throughout theconstruction phase with the operation of an ‘open door’ policy led by the efforts ofSRB’s Public Liaison Officer, and supported by the whole team for which they are to becommended. SRB Civil Engineering registered the site with the ConsiderateConstructors Scheme at an early stage, and independent assessments have consistentlyplaced the site in the top 5% of registered sites in the UK. The team was awarded aBronze award in the Considerate Constructors Scheme National Site Awards in 2013,and a silver award at the recently announced 2014 awards.

I congratulate everyone involved on the delivery of this improvement project, which I amsure will be appreciated by many in years to come. This brochure serves as a permanentreminder of the work of all involved.

Edwina Hart MBE CStJ AM, Minister for Economy, Science and Transport

Foreword 3

Partners for the Project 4

Background and Brief Project Description 7A Brief History of the Project 9Key Features 9

Achievement of Project Objectives 11Improving Wales’ Economic Competitiveness 11Community Enhancement 12Mitigating Potential Impacts 13

Constructing the Project 15The A477 St Clears to Red Roses Improvement in Numbers 15Engineering Challenges 16Construction Challenges 16

Weather 16Ecological and Archaeological Assessment 17The Tavernspite Road Arch Bridge 17

The Past Uncovered 18Ecology and Environmental Protection 20Working with the Local Community 23

Contents

Overbridge carrying a local side road

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Foreword

ISBN 978-1-4734-1092-3 © Crown Copyright 2014

Company SRB Civil EngineeringRole Main ContractorSRB is a joint venture company formed by two civil engineering contractors, Roadbridge and JohnSisk & Son.

Roadbridge was formed in 1967 and specialises in the delivery of major civil engineeringinfrastructure projects, including transport, renewables and energy, utilities, commercial, industrial,waste management and leisure sectors. It is a family owned business and has developedpartnerships with major international clients.

John Sisk & Son is a fifth generation, 150 year old family business. The company was founded inIreland in 1859 and it has grown from a small local builder to an international constructioncompany, now part of the strong and diversified Sisk Group.

Company RambollRole Contractor’s DesignersRamboll is a leading engineering, design and consultancy company at the forefront of innovation.From across 200 offices they apply their engineering skills and passion to a wide range of projectsaround the world, combining their global skills base with an understanding of the local context,importance and driving factors of a project. The UK based team of specialists is able to draw uponthe united global expertise of the practice in delivering industry-leading solutions from officesthroughout the British Isles. In March 2011 Ramboll acquired Gifford, an interdisciplinary UK-basedpractice known for its cutting edge sustainability consultancy and for its work on major publicsector projects. Gifford has now been fully integrated into the company.

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Promoter Welsh GovernmentRole EmployerThe Welsh Government is the highway authority for the trunk road and motorway network inWales and is the employer for the Project. The A477 St Clears to Red Roses Road Improvement wasplanned and constructed under the direction of the Welsh Government’s Infrastructure DeliveryDivision, part of Economy, Science and Transport.

The project partners listed below have been involved in the A477 St Clears to Red Roses projectsince 2009, when SRB Civil Engineering were appointed to take the proposal from preferred routethrough design development, statutory procedures including a Public Local Inquiry andConstruction. It has been an exciting, challenging and rewarding project that all are proud to havebeen involved with and proud to have been an integral part of its delivery.

Company Hyder Consulting LtdRole Employer’s AgentHyder Consulting is an independent engineering and environmental consultancy and, with aheritage that spans more than 150 years, it is one of the world’s longest established engineeringconsultancies. It has a global workforce of nearly 4000. Highways and transportation is a corebusiness area for Hyder Consulting with a large proportion of the company’s professional staffproviding an integrated approach to the planning, environmental management and engineeringdesign of projects. The company has a long history of delivering major highway projects in Walesfrom its Cardiff office and is a leading player in the UK wide highways and transportation sector.

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Partners for the Project

Earthworks operation at an early stage of the construction project Work during various stages of the project

Site safety team achievement - 500.000 hours worked without a lost time incident

The A477 forms part of an important strategictrunk road network serving:• Ferry traffic using the port at Pembroke

Dock;• Tourist centres of Tenby, Saundersfoot and

south Pembrokeshire; and• Haven Waterway Enterprise Zone at Milford

Haven

The Trunk Road is part of the Trans EuropeanRoad Network that links mainland Europe withwest Wales and Ireland via the ferry atPembroke Dock. It is regularly used to transport

abnormal loads including military vehicles,static caravans and industrial equipment. It alsoplays an important role in the local economyand road network.

Since the early eighties, the A477 trunk roadhas been improved to bring the road networkup to modern standards, with the exception ofthe section between St Clears roundabout andRed Roses. This section of road has beensubstandard in terms of its alignment and crosssection with poor visibility for drivers. Theabsence of verges or pull-in areas resulted inhazardous conditions for pedestrians andcyclists. Drivers also sometimes experiencedsignificant delays and congestion when therewere vehicle breakdowns. Maintenanceoperations were hampered due to the narrowroad width and bends, restricting the safepositioning of traffic signals. It had alsosuffered closure as a result of accidents orfallen trees several times in recent years.Additionally, the trunk road, passing throughthe communities of Llanddowror and RedRoses, had an adverse impact on the quality oflife of people living in those communities.

The former trunk road had followed thealignment of the River Hydfron within thesteep-sided valley between Llanddowror andRed Roses. Local topography imposedconstraints that precluded on-line improvementwithin the river valley and yet presentedsignificant engineering challenges for the newoff-line route.

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Background and Brief Project Description

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The road was built underan Early ContractorInvolvement contract,which meant that themain contractor wasinvolved at an early stagewith the design of theroad to ensure thatpractical considerationsregarding the ability toconstruct wereconsidered at an earlystage of design.

Traffic moving through Llanddowror prior to the construction of the new project

Traffic on the old A477 trunk road

A Brief History of the ProjectThe requirement for a road improvement in thearea was first identified over 20 years ago.Technical Advisors were appointed toinvestigate the need in greater depth in 1993,resulting in public consultations in 1995 and2003. It was following these consultations thata proposed route was protected for planningpurposes in 2006.

Competing priorities for improving the trunkroad network meant that work didn’t start until2008 when the Welsh Government, following atender process, appointed Hyder as Employer’sAgent for the project. The design andconstruction team, SRB Civil Engineering andtheir designers Ramboll (formerly Gifford) wereappointed in 2009, following a further tenderprocess.

Draft Statutory Line and Side Roads Orders andan Environmental Statement were published inNovember 2010, followed by a PublicExhibition, which was held in St Clears inDecember 2010. The draft CompulsoryPurchase Order was published in January 2011and took into account issues raised at thePublic Exhibition. Following a Public LocalInquiry in June 2011, an Independent PlanningInspector recommended that, subject toamendments, the Statutory Orders allowing theproject to proceed should be made. The Orderswere made in January 2012, and constructionof the project commenced in February 2012.

Key FeaturesThe project consists of 8.7km of new roadconstructed between Pont Newydd Bridge, eastof Llanddowror, and Red Roses with a further0.9km of improvement to the existing A477trunk road between Pont Newydd Bridge andSt Clears roundabout.

The road is a single carriageway with over halfits length carrying three lanes in a 2+1arrangement, allowing overtaking opportunitiesin both directions at set locations. The projecthas involved the construction of 17 structures(bridges, underpasses and culverts) to maintainthe local highway, public footpath andequestrian network and to provide access tolocal farms, farmland and properties. Culvertsare also provided for the safe passage ofwildlife under the road.

A footway / cycleway has also been constructedfrom Pont Newydd Bridge to Llanddowror tolink the communities of St Clears andLlanddowror.

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The 9.6km project, bypassing the communitiesof Llanddowror and Red Roses, comprised theconstruction of 8.7km of off-line highway,mainly through agricultural land, between PontNewydd Bridge and Red Roses. The singlecarriageway includes sections of 2+1carriageway and climbing lanes to provideovertaking opportunities. This helps to improvesafety and journey time reliability whilstreducing severance issues within the localcommunities. The earthworks operationinvolved the movement of nearly 1 million m3

of material, much of which was hard rock. Newstructures are provided at various locations tocross water features, maintain the local road,footpath and equestrian network and provideaccess to farms and other properties.

In addition to the anticipated engineeringchallenges, the contractor had also toovercome prolonged extremely wet weather, aperiod of heavy snow and the impact ofunexpected archaeology, including theuncovering and subsequent investigation of anextensive bronze age cremation site of nationalimportance.

The Project also includes 0.9km of on-lineimprovement works between St. Clearsroundabout and Pont Newydd Bridge.

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‘It will allow villagers tohave a better, safer,quieter and pollution free life’

(Llanddowror CommunityCouncil during the Public Inquiry)

The Public Exhibition in 2010 2+1 road layout on new A477 roadSome of the bends through the wooded area between Llanddowror and Red Roses on the old A477

A section of the completed road

A number of strategic aims and specificobjectives were set for the project. Transporthas a critical role to play in improving Wales’economic competitiveness and transportimprovements are undertaken to address theneeds of business, people and communities.

Improving Wales’ EconomicCompetitiveness

Objectives: • Improve links to west Wales, Ireland,

the English trunk road network andEurope;

• Improve regional accessibility andmobility;

• Bring up to standard and maintain thefunction of the trunk road network;

• Help meet Wales’ wider economicneeds in a cost effective manner;

• Monitor and reduce journey timevariability on the trunk road network

This strategic aim and its objectives have beenmet by the construction of a modern highway.

The improved section of the A477 will providemore efficient road connections to theimportant tourism and energy enterprises inPembrokeshire, and enable more effectiveconnections with Ireland via Pembroke Dock.

The new section of road has been designedand constructed to current highways standards,allowing for good forward vision and increasedopportunity for safe overtaking via the 2+1layout.

Journey time reliability will be monitored onopening the road. It is expected that theprovision of a wider carriageway with a muchimproved alignment will lead to far betterjourney time reliability. Delays or even roadclosures due to accidents, flooding, fallen treesor maintenance was a major issue with the oldtrunk road.

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Achievement of the Project’s Objectives

10The completed Tavernspite Road arch bridge north west of Llanddowror

Tenby and part of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park - key tourist destinations for traffic using the A477

Aerial view of the latter stages of the construction project

Mitigating Potential Impacts

Objectives• Minimise any adverse effect on the

environment generally;• Conserve and enhance, where

appropriate, landscape, townscapesand historical and cultural resources;

• Conserve and enhance, whereappropriate, biodiversity on thenetwork through the BiodiversityAction Plan

• Take into account the needs ofagriculture.

As well as delivering the key benefits set outearlier in this document, the project was alsodesigned to minimise potential negativeimpacts. These objectives were met throughcareful planning in the design phase. Furtheropportunities to minimise impact wereidentified and implemented as worksprogressed during the construction phase. Forexample, where it was identified on the groundthat fewer trees or hedgerows needed to beremoved to accommodate the design, theywere left in place.

During the design and construction phases,care was taken to keep to a minimum theimpact on the environment, landscape,heritage and land users.

At the design phase, opportunities wereidentified to move existing hedges to newlocations, rather than simply remove them.Over 1600m of hedgerow was moved in thisway, ensuring that flora and fauna in thosehedgerows were retained and re-established.

Detailed archaeological surveys wereundertaken during the design phase, and againduring the early phases of construction toensure that archaeological and heritagefeatures were identified and recorded.

The detailed work to conserve the heritage andecological resources of the area is explained onpages 17-21.

The team worked closely with local landownersimpacted by the project during the design andearly construction phases to ensure that theirneeds were taken into account. This ensuredthat they could continue their farmingoperations during and after the construction ofthe project. Five underpasses and twoaccommodation bridges were constructed toenable full access for farm traffic. Gates, farmaccess tracks and livestock pens were alsoconstructed where recommended by anagricultural specialist and the PlanningInspector, and in consultation with landowners.

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Community Enhancement

Objectives• Reduce severance caused by traffic for

communities on the A477 in westWales;

• Contribute towards safer communities,including managing the speed oftraffic to appropriate levels;

• Improve safety generally, butparticularly, on the A477;

• Improve the quality of life of people incommunities close to the trunk roadnetwork;

• Promote cycling and walking andprovide opportunities for healthylifestyles;

The lives of people in the communities ofLlanddowror and Red Roses in particular will besignificantly enhanced by taking away thethrough-traffic that had been travellingthrough these villages. The local traffic willcontinue to use the existing road through thetwo villages but with significantly reducedtraffic volumes.

Consequently, the quality of life for those livingwithin the two villages will be improved due tolower noise levels and pollution levels. Safetyfor pedestrians will also be significantlyenhanced.

The provision of a new footway / cyclewaylinking Llanddowror to St Clears will promoteincreased levels of cycling and walking forthose living locally

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The team worked with landowners to ensure farms were able to operate effectively during and after construction

Footpath / cycleway between St Clears and Llanddowror

Dust suppression measuresMonitoring vibration andnoise levels

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Constructing the Project

The A477 St Clears to Red Roses Improvement in 20 Numbers

Length of road constructed or improved 9.6km

Length of stock proof fencing 12km

Length of utilities diverted and protected 13.5km

Number of structures built 17

Length of mammal protection fence 18km

Length of drainage runs installed 25km

Number of Bronze age cremation urns found 70

Number of peak items of plant items including dump trucks and excavators 84

Number of local companies that have provided services 140

Peak number of people who worked on the project 173

Total number of people who worked on the project 930

Length of existing hedgerow moved and replanted 1,620m

Length of new hedgerow planted 3,500m

Number of trees planted 45,157

Volume of stone processed on site 59,500m3

Area of carriageway surfacing laid 162,300m2

Volume of rock material moved 578,500m3

Number of hours worked without a lost time incident / accident 612,317 hours

Total volume of earthworks including rock 898,100m3

Estimated annual number of vehicles expected to travel 2,628,000on the road at the time of opening

Trimming the earthworks formation prior to road construction was guided by GPS satellite technology

One of the 17 structures built

Pipeline ProtectionThe new road crosses a high pressure gaspipeline. It also crosses an oil pipeline at anumber of locations. To do so safely,protection measures were developed, whichavoided the need to divert the pipelines. Over640 metres of pipeline was protected in thisway before the road could be constructed.

Ecological and ArchaeologicalAssessmentThe early stages of construction, in particularsite clearance and removal of topsoil, wascarried out under close supervision fromecologists and archaeologists. Whilst pre-construction surveys were carried out, thetrue extent of ecological and archaeologicalfinds that needed to be considered could

not be fully appreciated until constructionwork started. Evidence of the existence ofdormice habitat in the ancient woodlandnear Llanddowror and a significantarchaeological find in the same area led tothe need to re-programme work asmitigation works were carried out beforeroad construction works could continue.

The Tavernspite Road Arch BridgeThe arch sections were pre-fabricated onspecially prepared beds within the mainearthworks cutting. These were lifted intoposition onto temporary trestle supports andstitched together in situ. The trestle supportwas then replaced with a suspendedworking platform to allow the earthworksand structure to be constructed in tandem.

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Engineering ChallengesDesigning the project presented a number ofchallenges. The main challenges identified bythe designers were:• Creating a road alignment design to achieve

the following key factors:• Meet all current highway standards,• Avoid constraints such as residential

properties and overhead cables• Addressing the need to divert key services

such as water supply and safely protectgas and oil pipelines.

• Balance cut and fill volumes, and avoidunnecessary import or disposal ofmaterial off site.

• Minimise the impact on the environmentand wildlife.

• Geotechnical considerations: The roadproject required the excavation of a largeamount of rock material in order to createcuttings through which the road wasconstructed. The variability in nature andstability of rock and soil was a key challengeduring the design and construction phase.

• Structures: 15 structures, including bridgesand underpasses were built into the project,and a further two existing structures wereupgraded. The design of the overbridgecarrying the Tavernspite Road nearLlanddowror within a 20m deep cutting wasparticularly challenging due to the skewangle and slope required by the sideroadalignment.

Construction ChallengesAs the construction team moved on site in early February 2012 and proceeded to build thenew road, they faced a number of challengesthat would not have been foreseen during thedesign phase. The following are examples ofthe main challenges faced during the buildphase:

Weather. The weather conditions presented some ofthe bigger challenges during the constructionphase. The team faced a very wet summerduring 2012, forcing a number of reviews ofthe construction schedule. The wet weatheralso placed a greater than expected pressureon the plans to manage water run-off, andmore resource was required to effectivelycontrol the level and quality of surface waterentering the water courses from theconstruction site. Further information aboutthis work can be found on page 20.

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2012 was Wales’ thirdwettest year on record,according to the Met Office,whose data also confirmedthe winter of 2013 as thewettest on record.

The arch segments were cast on the ground below and either side of the bridgeSeries of photographs showing the stages of construction of the main cutting near Llanddowror, along with the arch bridge carryingthe Tavernspite road

Finished Tavernspite Road arch bridge

The archaeological watching brief carried outbetween Llanddowror & Red Roses identifiedwidespread evidence of human activity relatingto the prehistoric period, particularly theBronze Age. Evidence of agriculture, domesticoccupation and ritual landscapes werediscovered. Within the wide number offeatures identified and recorded was a groupof Bronze Age cremation burials. These remainsare considered by all parties involved in theproject to be of national importance and, alongwith the other features identified, significantlyimprove the archaeological understanding ofprehistoric activity in this area of Wales.

Discovered alongside the cremation burialswere other features including a funeral pyre,cist burials and a mini-henge structure. Finds ofthis complexity are rare and, when consideredalong with the nearby Neolithic Henge andBronze Age Cemetery discovered duringNational Grid excavation works for the NationalGrid Pipeline in 2006, they comprise acomprehensive ritual landscape unparalleled inthis part of Wales, providing a detailed andvivid image of domestic, agricultural and ritualuse of the landscape in the Bronze Age.

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The Past UncoveredIt was identified early in the life of the projectthat there was the potential to impact uponarchaeological remains in the area includingthe loss of parts of the Scheduled Monumentat Dol Garn (prehistoric / early Roman remains)near Pont Newydd Bridge.

The objective of the project’s archaeologicalworks was to record for future generations the

presence, nature and extent of any remains ofhuman activity disturbed during the works.

Based on known and potential archaeologicalresources, works were undertaken at specificidentified sites throughout the project to ensurethe objectives were met. These includedgeophysical surveys, palaeoenvironmentaltrenching, archaeological strip, map and sampleexcavations and archaeological controlledwatching brief during the topsoil strip.

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Bronze Age cremation burialsArchaeologists explore a burnt mound layer by layer Archaeologists explore a potential new findDetailed exploration was carriedout at identified sites

Archaeologists start to uncover a burial urn

Trenches dug along the route

To enhance the site appearance, the entranceto the main compound was developed as a beegarden. With assistance from Esteam (a localgroup of adults with learning disabilities), thearea was planted up with bee-friendly plants(purchased from a small, independent nurserynear Carmarthen) while pupils from TavernspiteSchool helped to paint the hoardings withbees, butterflies and flowers. Over the summermonths, the colourful blooms attracted manydifferent insects, and many compliments fromvisitors. Although a small initiative, it helped tomeet the objectives of the Welsh GovernmentsAction Plan for Pollinators and alsodemonstrated what could be done to enhancethe environment on a construction project. Theplants will be donated to Tavernspite Schooland Red Roses & Llanddowror CommunityGardens.

Waste management was built into the projectat the start of its design. This involved thedetailed identification of those activities andelements that had potential for creating largewaste volumes e.g. Japanese Knotweed areasand surplus materials. Through several iterationsof the design, many of these elements weredesigned into the works or significantly reduced.In the case of Japanese Knotweed, a number ofcells were designed in embankment areas so thatthis invasive weed could be safely retained withinthe land purchased for the project, eliminatingthe need for any of this material to be disposedof off-site.

Also, during the design phase, waste streamswere identified and estimated quantitiescalculated. Waste was managed using theWRAP (Waste and Resources ActionProgramme) Site Waste Management Plan(SWMP) to ensure that the waste supply chainused the correct permissions and permits thatmet legal requirements. This process allowedtracking of waste producing activities andwaste streams to identify potential areas wherewaste could be reduced e.g. road planingsused in footpath construction.

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Ecology and EnvironmentalProtection

Throughout the construction period, the teamworked hard to protect and enhance theenvironment and ecology of the site. Inaddition to the requirements identified in theEnvironmental Statement prepared for theproject and the conditions detailed from thePublic Local Inquiry a number of otherinitiatives were carried out. Due toexceptionally challenging weather conditions

during construction, the team had to deal withlarge volumes of silt-laden surface water. Aninnovative approach was adopted usingtechnology developed by a local company inLlanelli - Hydro Industries. An electrical currentwas introduced into the silt-laden water tocause the silt to settle. SRB worked closely withHydro Industries and Natural Resources Wales(NRW) to ensure that surface water mitigationmeasures in place were capable of maintainingsite discharges within acceptable limits. This isone of the first times that such technology hasbeen used on a construction project in the UK.

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Environmental tool box talk Mammal protection fences erected alongside the roadWater quality monitoringOtter and reptile holtsconstructed on site

Hedge moved and replanted to enable early re-establishment

91% of all wastegenerated was divertedfrom landfill during theproject constructionphase. Surplus materialwas also used forappropriate local uses, forexample clay excavatedduring the site clearancestage was used atNantycaws landfill site ascapping material.

Getting the safety message across – via the Considerate Constructors Scheme’s Ivor Goodsite

Working with the LocalCommunityDuring the two years of construction, the teamendeavoured to be a good neighbour to thelocal communities affected by the constructionprogramme.

As part of its commitment to be a goodneighbour and responsible contractor, the siteteam registered the project with theConsiderate Constructors Scheme (the nationalinitiative set up by the construction industry toimprove its image), which meant that anexternal assessor regularly visited the site tomonitor how the project was managed in fivekey areas:• Enhancing site appearance• Respecting the community• Protecting the environment• Securing safety• Caring for the workforce.

The project has consistently scored well in theassessments, with the most recent score of 43placing it in the ‘Exceptionally good site’ categoryand also in the top 5% of all construction sitesregistered with the scheme in the UK, and earningit a silver award in the recent ConsiderateConstructors National Awards 2014.

Along the length of the construction project, theconstruction team promoted the earlyestablishment of grass on the embankments asthe works progressed. This initiative reduced thevisual impact of the cuttings and had the addedeffect of reducing the run off of silty water overthe bare earth embankments.

The construction team enjoyed an excellentworking relationship with the local community. A range of initiatives were undertaken to involvelocal communities in the project and also providesupport for local organisations and good causes.The team worked proactively with local primaryschools in the area to deliver messages about

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Tavernspite School pupils painting the site entrance bee gardenDonation made to the Cardiac Riskin the Young charity following atractor run.

A charity tractor run through part of the project

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safety around a major construction site. The civilengineers of the future were also encouragedthrough the use of the Institution of CivilEngineers’ Bridge to Schools initiative. Thisenabled local young people to gain a practicalunderstanding of the principles of bridge building.

An open information room at the site compound,with a dedicated Public Liaison Officer along witha project website, www.a477scrr.com, ensuredthat people could always find information aboutthe latest developments on the project. Motoristswere able to get updates on new trafficmanagement controls via a free text and e-mailservice to alert them to new developments thatwould impact their travelling plans in the area.The Project team enjoyed an excellent workingrelationship and easy co-operation with keypartners including Carmarthenshire CountyCouncil, Natural Resources Wales and the SouthWest Wales Trunk Roads Agency (SWTRA).

With the number of workers on site reaching 173at its peak within an 18km site boundary,securing everyone’s safety has been a key priority.A continuous focus on site safety led to the teamachieving over half a million hours of workwithout a time lost incident or accident.

Efforts to look after the workforce went beyondsimply ensuring that everyone worked safely onsite. The majority of the workforce wereemployed locally, and they were given theopportunity to gain experience and, were trainedto develop key skills, ensuring a lasting legacy asa result of the project. Specialist labour wassourced from outside the local area. As part of agovernment scheme, long term unemployedpeople were employed and trained, so that theirtransferrable skills can be put to good use withother local employers after the completion of theproject. Similarly, a number of civil engineeringgraduates from local Universities were employedand given valuable experience on the project.Extensive occupational health checks were givento site personnel as part of a 'Caring for theWorkforce' programme implemented on theproject.

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Job opportunities for long-term unemployed people Individuals from Esteam with the project team

‘The pupils have benefitted froma number of great experiencesthat have added value to theireducation here at Tavernspite’

(Mr Phelps, Headmaster at Tavernspite Primary School)

The construction team worked on a number ofinitiatives in the local community during the two-year construction programme, including:• Donating surplus construction material for local

good causes• Cleaning the local angling association's fishing

platform• Taking a roadshow around local schools to talk

about construction site safety prior to the schoolsummer holidays

• Using surplus resources from the site to upgradethe car parks at Tavernspite School and Red Rosescommunity centre, working alongside LafargeTarmac

• Supplying flood storage containers for the localcommunity at Llanddowror to store sandbags foruse in the event of local flooding

Material SuppliersStone GD Harris & SonsConcrete GD Harris & Sons / HansonsPrecast Beams Banagher Precast ConcretePrecast Concrete Culverts Murtagh ShayReinforcement Brazil & Co (Steel) LtdBuilding Providers LBS Builders Mercants / Davies Builders

Merchants / Jewson LtdRoad Signs Standard SignsDrainage Pipes Tracey Concrete Ltd / Davies LtdSafety Equipment Simon Safety & Lifting CentreCanteen Food P M Hughes, ButchersKerbing / Channels LBS Builders Mercants / Jewson LtdFuel KP Thomas & Son

SubontractorsRoad Surfacing Larfage Tarmac LimitedRock Bolts / Soil Nailing Albion Drilling Group LtdMammal Fecing Ridgeway Contractors LtdTraffic Management Forest Traffic Services LtdRoad Safety Barrier Barrier Services LtdSite Clearance / Fencing Julian Mousley & Sons / AnsteeMaterial Testing Celtest Company LimitedBridge Parapets Varley & Gulliver LtdLandscaping Afan Landscapes LtdRoad Markings Nolan Roadmarking LimitedBridge Waterproofing Volkerlaser LtdPiling Murphy International / P.J. Edwards Stone Processing John Munroe Crushing Photography Aled LlewelynConcrete Kerbing M J Doughty LtdSecurity Guardwatch Security Uk LtdCrane Hire Davies / Ainscough Crane Hire LtdScaffolding JP Junior Scaffolding LtdStone Work Abbey Masonry Ltd

Plant HirePlant Hire Gravelle Plant Ltd / Hywel GriffithsRoadsweeping RNA Plant Ltd / Zone / JetsweepPlant Hire Nationwide PlatformHydro Units Hydro Industries LtdPlant / Tool Hire Parker Plant Hire / Speedy PlantPlant Parts Mason Brothers ProductsPump Hire Selwood / Speedy PlantOffice Hire Elliott Group / Parker PlantAccommodation Contract Lettings

Labour AgenciesICDS Recruitment ConsultantAlltradesVenesky Brown RecruitmentZone Contractors LtdBallycommon Services LtdSphere Solutions LtdSpotless Recruitment

Supply chain – Resources

* SWWITCH is the South West Wales Integrated TransportConsortium area, covering Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire,Neath and Port Talbot and Swansea

SWWITCH *64%

REST OFWALES13%

Rest of UK20%

Outside UK3%

Source of Resource spend in theConstruction Project

Cyflenwyr DeunyddiauCerrigG D HarriesConcrit Hanson / G D HarriesTrawstiau concrit wedi’u rhag-gastio Banagher Precast ConcreteCwlfertau ar ffurf blychau Shay Murtagh

wedi’u rhag-gastioAtgyfnerthu Brazil & CO (Steel) LtdCyflenwyr deunyddiau adeiladu LBS / Davies / Jewson LtdArwyddion ffyrdd Standard SignsPibau draenio Tracey Concrete Ltd / Davies LtdOffer diogelwchSimon Safety and Lifting CentreBwyd i’r ffreutur P M Hughes, BwtsiwrCyrbau a chwteri Jewson / LBSTanwydd KP Thomas & Son

Is-GontractwyrWyneb y ffordd Lafarge TarmacWaliau cynhaliol i sefydlogi pridd Albion DrillingFfensys terfyn Ridgeway ContractorsRheoli traffig Forest Support ServicesRhwystrau diogelwch Barrier ServicesClirio’r safle a ffensioJulian Mousley & Sons / AnsteeProfi deunyddiau CeltestCanllawiau pontydd Varley and GulliverGwaith plannu coed / llwyni Afan LandscapesMarciau ar y ffordd Nolan Road MarkingsGwaith diddosi pontydd VolkerlaserPyst wedi’u turio Murphy / P J EdwardsProsesu CerrigJohn Munroe CrushingFfotograffiaethAled LlewelynCyrbau concrit M J DoughtyDiogelwchGuardwatch Security UK LtdHurio craeniau Davies Crane Hire /

Ainscough Crane Hire LtdScaffaldauJP Junior Scaffolding LtdGwaith cerrigAbbey Masonry Ltd

Hurio CyfarparHurio cyfarparGravelle Plant Ltd / Hywel GriffithsGlanhau’r fforddRNA Plant Ltd / Zone / JetsweepHurio cyfarparNationwide PlatformUnedau trin d ŵrHydro IndustriesHurio cyfarpar / deunyddiauParker Plant Hire / Speedy PlantDarnau ar gyfer offerMason Brothers ProductsHurio pympiauSelwood / Speedy PlantHurio swyddfeyddElliott Group / Parker PlantLletyContract Lettings

Asiantaethau llafurICDS Recruitment ConsultantAlltradesVenesky Brown RecruitmentZone Contractors LtdBallycommon Services LtdSphere Solutions LtdSpotless Recruitment

Cadwyn gyflenwi – Adnoddau

* SWWITCH yw ardal Consortiwm Cludiant Integredig De-orllewinCymru, sy’n cynnwys Sir Gaerfyrddin, Sir Benfro, Castell-nedd PortTalbot ac Abertawe

SWWITCH *64%

GWEDDILLCYMRU

13%

Gweddill y DU20%

Y tu allan i’r DU3%

Ffynhonnell yr adnoddau a brynwydar gyfer y prosiect adeiladu

Site clearance Traffic management Material delivery

Tavernspite road arch bridgePont fwa ffordd Tafarn-sbeit

Clirio's safleRheoli traffigDarparu deunydd

Cyfnodau allweddol yn ystod y cam adeiladu Key stages during the construction phase

‘Hoffai Llywodraeth Cymru a’r tîm adeiladu ddiolch i drigolion Sanclêr, Llanddowror a Rhos-goch, y tirfeddianwyr a’r perchnogion eiddo yr effeithiodd y gwaith arnynt, a’r holl randdeiliaida fu’n ymwneud â sicrhau bod y prosiect pwysig hwn yn cael ei gwblhau’n effeithlon.’

‘The Welsh Government and the Construction team wish to thank the residents of St Clears,Llanddowror and Red Roses, the landowners and property owners affected by the works and allstakeholder involved in ensuring the efficient completion of this important project’

Site clearanceClirio'r safle

1

1

Archaeological topsoil stripArsylwi archeolegol

2

2

Accommodation underpassTanffordd gwasanaethu

3

3

Earthworks operationGwaith cloddio

4

4

Main earthworksY prif waith cloddio

5

5

Rock stabilisationGwaith sefydlogi'r graig

6

6

Beam liftCodi'r trawst i'w le

7

7

Capping layer placementGosod yr haen capio

8

8

Tarmac surfacingGosod y tarmac

9

9

Road restraint barrierRhwystrau diogelwch

10

10

Traffic signs and road markingsArwyddion ffyrdd a marciau ar y ffordd

11

11

C3230

C3230