(Pic: via Youtube)
A Welsh Government feasibility study into options to close the Pencoed level crossing and make improvements to the Penprysg Road bridge was announced in 2019.
Since then, very few details have emerged. Yet a detailed report was tucked away in the recently published supporting documents for the deposit Local Development Plan.
This report (pdf) set out why a continued moratorium on new developments west of the railway in Pencoed was justified. It also listed the options being considered to address traffic and road safety problems caused by the Hendre Road level crossing and Penprysg Road bridge.
Somewhat worryingly, the report reveals that on a typical weekday, every hour there are at least nine incidents of drivers queuing within the level crossing zone itself with two of those considered dangerous/blocking the line.
What options have been considered?
A fairly extensive shortlist of options was drafted, including:
- A widened Penprysg Road bridge with the level crossing being kept.
- A skewed Penprysg Road bridge – presumably linking Penybont Road directly to Min-y-Nant – and keeping the level crossing.
- Improvements to the B4280-Penprysg Road junction to provide an alternative route to and from the town centre.
- A combination of a new Penpryg Road bridge and closure of the level crossing.
- Replacing the level crossing with a bridge to allow traffic to pass under the railway.
- Improvements to existing footbridges, such as ramps at Hendre Road, as well as a new footbridge linking to the new Pencoed Primary school.
- Real-time crossing information, presumably telling drivers when the crossing barriers are expected to come down.
- New signs telling drivers to avoid regularly congested areas.
- Staggered school start and finish times.
What are the preferred options?
The report says the preferred option is a new Penprysg Road bridge combined with the closure of the level crossing.
This is the preferred option for the new Penprysg Road bridge. The existing bridge would be completely replaced, junction layouts at either end changed and full walking and cycling facilities would be provided. The report estimates it would cost up to £5.6million.
As mentioned, the level crossing would be closed. The existing pedestrian bridge over the railway would be replaced with a new disabled and cycling-friendly design, combined with improved safe routes to school. The cost of decommissioning the level crossing and installing the new bridge is estimated at up to £4.3million.
So the preferred option is estimated to cost up to £9.9million in total.
Before you get too excited, there are big obstacles in the way.
Firstly, the report says the scheme comes in with a low cost-benefit ratio, meaning it would struggle to provide value for money – though it’s said this can be improved with further investigations.
Secondly, no funding has been committed and the proposal has only cleared the second stage of five (known as WelTAG). The next stage (WelTAG 3) is a full business case, which is set to take place during the 2021-22 financial year.
Talks will continue between the Welsh Government (via Transport for Wales), Network Rail and Bridgend Council. Funding will likely have to come from multiple sources including BCBC’s capital budget, Welsh Government transport grants, the Cardiff City Region and Network Rail themselves.
