Rocks falling from a hillside following a wildfire have forced a major Valleys road to shut. Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is re-opening the Maerdy Mountain Road earlier than planned as it fears the Rhigos Mountain Road could be closed for some time. People have been warned to stay away from the Rhigos Mountain Road near Treherbert after rocks fell onto it from the mountain after a fire.
On Sunday, August 14, South Wales Fire Service and Rhondda Cynon Taf Council highways crews attended the scene at Rhigos Mountain Road near Treherbert where a grass fire had melted fencing on the roadside allowing boulders to fall onto road itself. The road will remain closed until further notice and access to Zip World Tower via Hirwaun side remains open.
The Maerdy Mountain Road will open between 4pm-9.30am each day, starting from 4pm on August 17. It will be closed between 9.30am and 4pm to allow important works to continue and two sets of traffic lights will be in place due to the ongoing work so the council said that delays should be expected.
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Specialist rope access contractors are currently on site, removing loose material and inspecting netting to assess full scale of damage. The council said it has received reports of individuals running and cycling over Rhigos Mountain Road.
It said the route is extremely dangerous with rocks falling down to the road and has issued a reminder that the road is closed to all users and people should not attempt to access it. Emergency works are underway to make the area safe and concrete barriers are being placed to protect passing traffic once these works are completed.
Councillor Andrew Morgan OBE, the leader of the council, urged the public to stay away from the area. He said the road is closed, which includes for runners and cyclist and that rocks are continuing to fall from the hillside adding that it is “extremely dangerous.”
He said that rock fall is an ongoing problem and that specialist rope access crews will be working on the mountain on Tuesday (August 16). Emergency works are underway to make the area safe. The fire has damaged both the plastic and wire netting on the mountainside and the specialist rope access crews are helping to remove loose rocks.
The Maerdy mountain road has been closed since July 4 so the council can repair a section of the slope below the highway. The A4233 between Aberdare and Maerdy is due to re-open on September 5.
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