The search has started for a contractor to deliver a £50m link road in South Wales.

Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council has begun the procurement process to appoint a main contractor to design and build the Cynon Gateway project - a 1.2km link road connecting the A4059 Aberdare Bypass to the A465 Heads of the Valleys Road at Croesbychan.

The final contract award is expected to take place during 2027 when detailed design work will get under way.

The project is expected to cost approximately £50m. Earlier this year the council was allocated £2.01m to develop the project in 2026/27, from Welsh Government through the Cardiff Capital Region. This was in addition to the £603,000 identified in the council’s Highways and Engineering 2026/27 Capital Programme, agreed in March.

The project has been revised following publication of the Roads Review report in February 2023, to ensure it aligns closely with Welsh Government’s transport policy.

Andrew Morgan, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s cabinet member for environment and capital infrastructure, said: “Following the council and Welsh Government’s separate funding allocations to develop the Cynon Gateway Link Road throughout 2026/27, this latest progress update looks ahead to the next major milestone.

“Officers have started an extensive procurement process to appoint the main contractor that will be responsible for delivering this multi-million pound investment. Once the contract is awarded next year, the detailed design phase will be able to start, and this may involve the first works on site to support the detailed design work.”

He added that the project remained an “absolute commitment” for the council and is a key part of the Cardiff Capital Region’s five-year Regional Transport Plan.