Western sections 5 and 6 between Dowlais Top and Hirwaun are being delivered under the Welsh Government’s new Mutual Investment Model.

Preferred bidder Future Valleys consortium – consisting of Spanish giant FCC, Irish contractor Roadbridge, Welsh contractor Griffiths, engineer Atkins and investor Meridiam – is now set to build the huge road job using the Welsh private public partnership model.

A contract is expected to be signed off by the end of October allowing construction to start this year with the aim of completing Wales’ largest road project by mid-2024.

Ken Skates, Minister for Economy and Transport, said that the completed A465 Heads of the Valleys dualling had the potential to deliver economic growth which would be vital to the people of Wales.

He said: “I expect the project to deliver around £400m of direct spend in Wales, with GVA generated for the wider Welsh economy at over £675m.

“Furthermore I expect to see £170m of spending with the local supply chain, supporting the objectives of the Valleys Task Force.

“This level of investment will be of critical importance as the Welsh economy strives to recover from the challenges of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.”