A4119 road
Encyclopedia
The A4119 is an A road linking Tonypandy
with Cardiff
in south Wales
.
Settlements served by the route include:
, where it proceeds through the West Side of Cardiff through Butetown
, Grangetown
, Riverside
and Canton
until a Junction with the A48 Western Avenue at Llandaff
.
From here is proceeds through Llandaff passing the BBC Wales
studios. After leaving Llandaff the road takes on a more rural setting with many bends crossing the M4 Motorway near Capel Llanitern. From here the road snakes passed the settlement of Creigiau
before leaving Cardiff.
of Rhondda Cynon Taf (formerly Mid Glamorgan
) at Groes-faen. The road continues through the Village until it comes to a T-Junction at The Castell Mynach Public House. To the left is a Spur of the A4119 that links to Junction 34 of the M4 Motorway
. Off the roundabout at the Junction is the Bosch
Electronics Plant and lanes to Pendoylan
and Hensol Castle
in the Vale of Glamorgan
.
The road continues after the t-junction past Miskin and Mwyndy.
, and creating better access to the lanes leading to the Vale of Glamorgan
.
At Mwyndy Cross, you can still see the original lane that the road used, signposted "Arthur Llewelyn Jenkins", the lane is accessible to the furniture store and as far as Cefn-y-Parc cemetery but is blocked at the bypass.
There is a roundabout with the Talbot Green Bypass after passing Mwyndy Cross and the original roads - the A473 Pontypridd to Bridgend Road. This roundabout was added when the bypass was built in 1991. Another roundabout, was located at the base of Llantrisant, where the A473 originally ran. When the bypass was built, it cut off the original main road from Cowbridge
via Pontyclun
and therefore traffic is forced to use the new Bypass.
The decision was made by Mid Glamorgan
County Council in the early 1990s to dual the section of A4119 between Ynysmaerdy and Mwyndy because: The decline of the Welsh Coal industry, will lead to more people needing to venture out of the Valleys to find work. This would be the last major road project undertaken by Mid Glamorgan before its abolishment in 1996.
The completed "Talbot Green to Ynysmaerdy Dual Carriageway" officially opened on the 28th of July, 1995. The scheme replaced the old Roundabout near Llantrisant with a four way traffic-lit junction, and completely replaced the original Ely Valley Road at Talbot Green apart from the first portion: a t-junction from the centre Talbot Green's high street that leads to a row of houses and a Golf Club, this is the only remaining section Ely Valley Road that is un-altered, still bearing the original road surface and signage, although it is now a Cul-de-sac
.
A department store called "Homeworld" opened alongside the new Dual Carriageway at Talbot Green until the store was closed in 1999 and demolished in 2000. This, alongside with a 1980's Tesco
Store marked the rush of new developments in the area, the original Tesco store was closed and demolished in 2003, to coincide with the opening of a new Tesco Extra Store (which relocated to the former "Homeworld" site). Talbot Green Shopping Park was built on the former Tesco site and opened in 2004.
At the next roundabout the road takes the shape of a bow passed the Ely Meadows which is now the site of Magden Park, a development of Offices, Hotel, Pub and private Health facility. Bypassing the Royal Glamorgan Hospital
, which opened in 2000 , Avionics
department of British Airways
and the Headquarters of the Welsh Blood Service.
On the south-bound carriageway is a long stretch of original road, although now a parking area where refreshment vans and sleepy truckers are a common sight, it provides access to some houses and a rural lane leading to Llantrisant.
The Road then comes to a roundabout with a turn off for the Llantrisant Industrial Park which is home to the Royal Mint
.
Another smaller roundabout at the village of Ynysmaerdy, where the new Headquarters of the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service
is located, marks the end of the Dual Carriageway, the road becomes a single carriageway again at this point.
At the next roundabout the road splits, this is where a bypass separates from the original course of the A4119. The old road through the village of Coed-Ely
is to the right. The bypass, completed in 1987, takes the route of the old Ely Valley Railway, and the former site of the Coed-Ely Colliery is on the left. From here the road is still single carriageway with numerous rest areas. The road continues on another bypass past Tonyrefail
.
Shortly after Tonyrefail the road once again forks, with a junction for the A4233 which links with Trebanog
and Porth
. The A4119 from here follows the floor of the Valley through woodland and past a small industrial estate with the Village of Williamstown. At this roundabout the A4119 meets momenterally with its original course before continuing along the old Railway line. The route then bypasses the village of Penygraig
and south of Tonypandy
where is progresses down a steep incline. There is a spur with Clydach Vale
before the road, still following an old railway line, progresses down to the floor of the valley where the A4119 ends with a roundabout of the A4058.
Originally the A4119 continued along Colliers Way and Llwynypia Road, where it again followed its original course, to a Terminus at Llwynypia Hospital with the A4058, but following the completion of the Porth Relief Road, the roads were re-numbered. Therefore Colliers Way and the Tonypandy North Bypass are now part of the A4058 Pontypridd
to Treorchy
route.
Tonypandy
Tonypandy is a town in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, within the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan, Wales, lying in the Rhondda Fawr Valley. A former industrial coal mining town, today Tonypandy is best known as the site of the Tonypandy Riots....
with Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
in south Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
.
Settlements served by the route include:
- TonypandyTonypandyTonypandy is a town in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, within the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan, Wales, lying in the Rhondda Fawr Valley. A former industrial coal mining town, today Tonypandy is best known as the site of the Tonypandy Riots....
- PenygraigPenygraigPenygraig is a village and community in the Rhondda Valley in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, within the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan, Wales...
- Williamstown
- TonyrefailTonyrefailTonyrefail is a village and community in Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough, Wales. It is situated north west of Llantrisant at the head of the Ely Valley, south of the Rhondda, being around from Trebanog and around from Williamstown. It is also around from the village of Gilfach Goch...
- YnysmaerdyYnysmaerdyYnysmaerdy is a village in Talbot Green, near Llantrisant in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales. It is home to the Royal Glamorgan Hospital....
- Talbot GreenTalbot GreenTalbot Green is a village just north of the M4 motorway, in the County Borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales in the United Kingdom...
- LlantrisantLlantrisantLlantrisant is a town in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf in Wales, within the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan, Wales, lying on the River Ely and the Afon Clun. The town's name translates as The Parish of the Three Saints. The three saints in question are St Illtyd, St Gwynno and St...
- Groes-faen
- CreigiauCreigiauCreigiau is a dormitory settlement in the north-west of Cardiff, the capital of Wales. The village currently has about 1,000 houses and a population of approximately 2,400 people.- History :...
- LlandaffLlandaffLlandaff is a district in the north of Cardiff, capital of Wales, having been incorporated into the city in 1922. It is the seat of the Church in Wales Bishop of Llandaff, whose diocese covers the most populous area of South Wales. Much of the district is covered by parkland known as Llandaff...
- CantonCanton, CardiffCanton is an inner-city district and community in the west of Cardiff, capital of Wales, lying west of the city's civic centre. One of the most ethnically diverse of Cardiff's suburbs, with a significant Asian population such as Pakistanis and Indians, Canton has a population just in excess of...
- RiversideRiverside, CardiffRiverside is an inner-city southern area of Cardiff, capital of Wales. Riverside is also the name of the electoral ward, which can be split into two very different parts, Riverside and Pontcanna...
- GrangetownGrangetown, CardiffGrangetown is a community in the south of Cardiff, capital of Wales. It is one of the largest districts in the south of the city and is bordered by Riverside, Canton and Butetown. The River Taff winds its way through the area...
- ButetownButetownButetown is a community in the south of the city of Cardiff, the capital of Wales. It was originally a model housing estate built in the early nineteenth century by John Crichton-Stuart, 2nd Marquess of Bute, for whose title the area was named...
- Cardiff BayCardiff BayCardiff Bay is the area created by the Cardiff Barrage in South Cardiff, the capital of Wales. The regeneration of Cardiff Bay is now widely regarded as one of the most successful regeneration projects in the United Kingdom. The Bay is supplied by two rivers to form a freshwater lake round the...
City and County of Cardiff
The A4119 starts outside the Wales Millenium Centre at Cardiff BayCardiff Bay
Cardiff Bay is the area created by the Cardiff Barrage in South Cardiff, the capital of Wales. The regeneration of Cardiff Bay is now widely regarded as one of the most successful regeneration projects in the United Kingdom. The Bay is supplied by two rivers to form a freshwater lake round the...
, where it proceeds through the West Side of Cardiff through Butetown
Butetown
Butetown is a community in the south of the city of Cardiff, the capital of Wales. It was originally a model housing estate built in the early nineteenth century by John Crichton-Stuart, 2nd Marquess of Bute, for whose title the area was named...
, Grangetown
Grangetown, Cardiff
Grangetown is a community in the south of Cardiff, capital of Wales. It is one of the largest districts in the south of the city and is bordered by Riverside, Canton and Butetown. The River Taff winds its way through the area...
, Riverside
Riverside, Cardiff
Riverside is an inner-city southern area of Cardiff, capital of Wales. Riverside is also the name of the electoral ward, which can be split into two very different parts, Riverside and Pontcanna...
and Canton
Canton, Cardiff
Canton is an inner-city district and community in the west of Cardiff, capital of Wales, lying west of the city's civic centre. One of the most ethnically diverse of Cardiff's suburbs, with a significant Asian population such as Pakistanis and Indians, Canton has a population just in excess of...
until a Junction with the A48 Western Avenue at Llandaff
Llandaff
Llandaff is a district in the north of Cardiff, capital of Wales, having been incorporated into the city in 1922. It is the seat of the Church in Wales Bishop of Llandaff, whose diocese covers the most populous area of South Wales. Much of the district is covered by parkland known as Llandaff...
.
From here is proceeds through Llandaff passing the BBC Wales
BBC Wales
BBC Cymru Wales is a division of the British Broadcasting Corporation for Wales. Based at Broadcasting House in the Llandaff area of Cardiff, it directly employs over 1200 people, and produces a broad range of television, radio and online services in both the Welsh and English languages.Outside...
studios. After leaving Llandaff the road takes on a more rural setting with many bends crossing the M4 Motorway near Capel Llanitern. From here the road snakes passed the settlement of Creigiau
Creigiau
Creigiau is a dormitory settlement in the north-west of Cardiff, the capital of Wales. The village currently has about 1,000 houses and a population of approximately 2,400 people.- History :...
before leaving Cardiff.
Rhondda Cynon Taf
The road enters the County BoroughCounty borough
County borough is a term introduced in 1889 in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland , to refer to a borough or a city independent of county council control. They were abolished by the Local Government Act 1972 in England and Wales, but continue in use for lieutenancy and shrievalty in...
of Rhondda Cynon Taf (formerly Mid Glamorgan
Mid Glamorgan
Mid Glamorgan is a preserved county of Wales. From 1974 until 1996, it was also an administrative county, with a county council.Mid Glamorgan was formed in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972...
) at Groes-faen. The road continues through the Village until it comes to a T-Junction at The Castell Mynach Public House. To the left is a Spur of the A4119 that links to Junction 34 of the M4 Motorway
M4 motorway
The M4 motorway links London with South Wales. It is part of the unsigned European route E30. Other major places directly accessible from M4 junctions are Reading, Swindon, Bristol, Newport, Cardiff and Swansea...
. Off the roundabout at the Junction is the Bosch
Robert Bosch GmbH
Robert Bosch GmbH is a multinational engineering and electronics company headquartered in Gerlingen, near Stuttgart, Germany. It is the world's largest supplier of automotive components...
Electronics Plant and lanes to Pendoylan
Pendoylan
Pendoylan is a rural village in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, which has won many awards in Best Kept Village competitions and contains 27 entries in the Council's County Treasures database, 13 of which are listed buildings.- Location :...
and Hensol Castle
Hensol Castle
Hensol Castle is a castellated mansion in the gothic architecture style dating from the late 17th century or early 18th century. It is located north of Clawdd Coch and Tredodridge in the parish of Pendoylan in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales...
in the Vale of Glamorgan
Vale of Glamorgan
The Vale of Glamorgan is a county borough in Wales; an exceptionally rich agricultural area, it lies in the southern part of Glamorgan, South Wales...
.
The road continues after the t-junction past Miskin and Mwyndy.
Development of Infastructure in Talbot Green
The A4119 through Talbot Green was first built Circa. 1977 as a single carriageway passing to the side of the village straight on to Ely Valley Road, easing pressure off the original small lanes that lead from Talbot Green to the area known as Mwyndy, south of the village. The road here was built at the same time as an extension of the original Talbot - Cardiff road, leading to Junction 34 of the M4 MotorwayM4 motorway
The M4 motorway links London with South Wales. It is part of the unsigned European route E30. Other major places directly accessible from M4 junctions are Reading, Swindon, Bristol, Newport, Cardiff and Swansea...
, and creating better access to the lanes leading to the Vale of Glamorgan
Vale of Glamorgan
The Vale of Glamorgan is a county borough in Wales; an exceptionally rich agricultural area, it lies in the southern part of Glamorgan, South Wales...
.
At Mwyndy Cross, you can still see the original lane that the road used, signposted "Arthur Llewelyn Jenkins", the lane is accessible to the furniture store and as far as Cefn-y-Parc cemetery but is blocked at the bypass.
There is a roundabout with the Talbot Green Bypass after passing Mwyndy Cross and the original roads - the A473 Pontypridd to Bridgend Road. This roundabout was added when the bypass was built in 1991. Another roundabout, was located at the base of Llantrisant, where the A473 originally ran. When the bypass was built, it cut off the original main road from Cowbridge
Cowbridge
Cowbridge is a market town in the Vale of Glamorgan in Wales, approximately west of Cardiff. Cowbridge is twinned with Clisson in the Loire-Atlantique department in northwestern France.-Roman times:...
via Pontyclun
Pontyclun
Pontyclun is a village in the County Borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales. It is served by the South Wales Main Line and has its own local rugby union club...
and therefore traffic is forced to use the new Bypass.
The decision was made by Mid Glamorgan
Mid Glamorgan
Mid Glamorgan is a preserved county of Wales. From 1974 until 1996, it was also an administrative county, with a county council.Mid Glamorgan was formed in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972...
County Council in the early 1990s to dual the section of A4119 between Ynysmaerdy and Mwyndy because: The decline of the Welsh Coal industry, will lead to more people needing to venture out of the Valleys to find work. This would be the last major road project undertaken by Mid Glamorgan before its abolishment in 1996.
The completed "Talbot Green to Ynysmaerdy Dual Carriageway" officially opened on the 28th of July, 1995. The scheme replaced the old Roundabout near Llantrisant with a four way traffic-lit junction, and completely replaced the original Ely Valley Road at Talbot Green apart from the first portion: a t-junction from the centre Talbot Green's high street that leads to a row of houses and a Golf Club, this is the only remaining section Ely Valley Road that is un-altered, still bearing the original road surface and signage, although it is now a Cul-de-sac
Cul-de-sac
A cul-de-sac is a word of French origin referring to a dead end, close, no through road or court meaning dead-end street with only one inlet/outlet...
.
A department store called "Homeworld" opened alongside the new Dual Carriageway at Talbot Green until the store was closed in 1999 and demolished in 2000. This, alongside with a 1980's Tesco
Tesco
Tesco plc is a global grocery and general merchandise retailer headquartered in Cheshunt, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest retailer in the world measured by revenues and the second-largest measured by profits...
Store marked the rush of new developments in the area, the original Tesco store was closed and demolished in 2003, to coincide with the opening of a new Tesco Extra Store (which relocated to the former "Homeworld" site). Talbot Green Shopping Park was built on the former Tesco site and opened in 2004.
At the next roundabout the road takes the shape of a bow passed the Ely Meadows which is now the site of Magden Park, a development of Offices, Hotel, Pub and private Health facility. Bypassing the Royal Glamorgan Hospital
Royal Glamorgan Hospital
The Royal Glamorgan Hospital , is a District General Hospital in Ynysmaerdy, Talbot Green, near Llantrisant, Rhondda Cynon Taf, South Wales. The Hospital is operated and maintained by Cwm Taf NHS Trust and has around 570 beds....
, which opened in 2000 , Avionics
Avionics
Avionics are electronic systems used on aircraft, artificial satellites and spacecraft.Avionic systems include communications, navigation, the display and management of multiple systems and the hundreds of systems that are fitted to aircraft to meet individual roles...
department of British Airways
British Airways
British Airways is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, based in Waterside, near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport. British Airways is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations...
and the Headquarters of the Welsh Blood Service.
On the south-bound carriageway is a long stretch of original road, although now a parking area where refreshment vans and sleepy truckers are a common sight, it provides access to some houses and a rural lane leading to Llantrisant.
The Road then comes to a roundabout with a turn off for the Llantrisant Industrial Park which is home to the Royal Mint
Royal Mint
The Royal Mint is the body permitted to manufacture, or mint, coins in the United Kingdom. The Mint originated over 1,100 years ago, but since 2009 it operates as Royal Mint Ltd, a company which has an exclusive contract with HM Treasury to supply all coinage for the UK...
.
Another smaller roundabout at the village of Ynysmaerdy, where the new Headquarters of the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service
South Wales Fire and Rescue Service
The South Wales Fire and Rescue Service is the fire and rescue service covering the ten Welsh principal areas of Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Newport, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Torfaen and Vale of Glamorgan....
is located, marks the end of the Dual Carriageway, the road becomes a single carriageway again at this point.
Ely and Rhondda Valleys
Past Ynysmaerdy the road starts to climb a hill, which is known locally as "Stink Pot Hill" because of the sewerage works that is on the side of the road.At the next roundabout the road splits, this is where a bypass separates from the original course of the A4119. The old road through the village of Coed-Ely
Coed-Ely
Coed-Ely is a small village located to the south of Tonyrefail in south Wales and is located in the County Borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf. The name Coed-Ely is a derivative of the Welsh words Coed-Elái which can be loosely translated into English as Ely Woods....
is to the right. The bypass, completed in 1987, takes the route of the old Ely Valley Railway, and the former site of the Coed-Ely Colliery is on the left. From here the road is still single carriageway with numerous rest areas. The road continues on another bypass past Tonyrefail
Tonyrefail
Tonyrefail is a village and community in Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough, Wales. It is situated north west of Llantrisant at the head of the Ely Valley, south of the Rhondda, being around from Trebanog and around from Williamstown. It is also around from the village of Gilfach Goch...
.
Shortly after Tonyrefail the road once again forks, with a junction for the A4233 which links with Trebanog
Trebanog
Trebanog is a village lying on the southernmost outskirts of the Rhondda Valley, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, located off the A4233 road between Porth the unoficial capital of the Rhondda, and the town of Tonyrefail which is at the head of the Ely Valley...
and Porth
Porth
Porth is a town and a community in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, within the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan, Wales, lying in the Rhondda Valley and is regarded as the gateway to the Rhondda Fawr and Rhondda Fach valleys because both valleys meet at Porth...
. The A4119 from here follows the floor of the Valley through woodland and past a small industrial estate with the Village of Williamstown. At this roundabout the A4119 meets momenterally with its original course before continuing along the old Railway line. The route then bypasses the village of Penygraig
Penygraig
Penygraig is a village and community in the Rhondda Valley in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, within the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan, Wales...
and south of Tonypandy
Tonypandy
Tonypandy is a town in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, within the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan, Wales, lying in the Rhondda Fawr Valley. A former industrial coal mining town, today Tonypandy is best known as the site of the Tonypandy Riots....
where is progresses down a steep incline. There is a spur with Clydach Vale
Clydach Vale
Clydach Vale is a village adjoining Tonypandy in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, within the Rhondda Valley, Wales. It is named for its situation on the Nant Clydach, a tributary of the River Taff.-Integration of villages:...
before the road, still following an old railway line, progresses down to the floor of the valley where the A4119 ends with a roundabout of the A4058.
Originally the A4119 continued along Colliers Way and Llwynypia Road, where it again followed its original course, to a Terminus at Llwynypia Hospital with the A4058, but following the completion of the Porth Relief Road, the roads were re-numbered. Therefore Colliers Way and the Tonypandy North Bypass are now part of the A4058 Pontypridd
Pontypridd
Pontypridd is both a community and a principal town of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales and is situated 12 miles/19 km north of the Welsh capital city of Cardiff...
to Treorchy
Treorchy
Treorchy is a village, although it used to be and still has characteristics of a town, in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, lying in the Rhondda Fawr valley...
route.