The A465, known as the Heads of the Valleys road, was supposed to be a milestone in Welsh infrastructure. Instead, it has become the subject of widespread criticism over delays, cost and political failure. After 23 years of disruption, diversions and excuses, the 28 mile stretch is finally finished at a total cost of around £2 billion. Yet, large parts of this so-called modern dual carriageway are still capped at 50mph.
First proposed in the early 1990s and launched in 2002, the project was designed to improve safety, reduce congestion, and boost economic growth. But over two decades and billions in public money later, many are asking if this was a world-class road scheme or just a world-class waste.
Still 50mph After All That?
One of the most frustrating outcomes of the entire upgrade is the fact that many stretches of the dual carriageway still have a 50mph speed limit, the same as when it was a single lane in each direction.
Why? The Welsh Government has suggested that lower speeds are better for the environment. But for most drivers, that explanation is nonsense. A £2 billion dual carriageway should not be stuck with the same limits as the outdated road it replaced. If slower speeds were the goal, why upgrade the road in the first place?
This is not green planning. It is a lazy policy dressed up as climate sensitivity. For people who spent years sitting in traffic and navigating construction chaos, being told to stay at 50mph feels like a bad joke.
The £1.4 Billion You Did Not See Coming
The project’s final phase, the 11-mile stretch between Dowlais Top and Hirwaun, was not just delayed. It was also cleverly financed to hide the cost. Rather than pay upfront, the Welsh Government used the Mutual Investment Model. This means taxpayers will fork out over £40 million a year for 30 years, totalling £1.4 billion, to a private firm that built and maintains the road.
That is more than double what it cost to physically construct the section. Yet there was no referendum, no public vote, not even much media coverage about this long-term financial commitment.
Critics have rightly slammed the deal. And the public? Most had no idea they would be paying for this until 2055.
Local Views: It Was Hell
Residents along the route endured more than two decades of roadworks. Villages like Hirwaun were turned into logistics yards. Learner drivers struggled with inconsistent signage and layout changes. Others were forced onto dangerous back roads during closures.
Taxi drivers and daily commuters now appreciate the smoother drive and increased capacity. There is no question that the road today looks and feels different. But many still question why it took so long, cost so much and comes with such long-term financial strings attached.
A Legacy of Waste and Weakness
The Heads of the Valleys project was meant to be a showcase of ambition. Instead, it revealed the cracks in how major public works are planned, delivered and sold to the public. It dragged through 23 years, multiple governments, a global pandemic and countless revisions.
This entire saga is also a damning reflection on Welsh Labour, who have controlled the government in Cardiff Bay for over two decades. It was under their watch that this project spiralled in cost, dragged through endless delays and was ultimately signed off using long term private finance that will burden future generations. For a party that claims to champion working people, the Heads of the Valleys debacle represents an inexcusable failure of delivery, transparency and fiscal responsibility.
Now, despite its massive price tag, the road remains surrounded by controversy. The speed limit is a joke. The financing is buried in decades of debt. And the politics around it are more visible than the road signs ever were.
Conclusion: What Took So Long and Who Pays the Price?
This was not just a road. It was a promise of faster journeys, safer travel and long overdue investment in Welsh infrastructure. But in the end, what we got was a drawn-out, overpriced and underwhelming project.
£2 billion. 28 miles. 23 years. And drivers are still being told to go 50. If this is how progress is managed, Wales deserves better.
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