Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the progress of the Heads of the Valleys road scheme, with particular reference to any updates relating to the completion date of the eastern section and any cost overruns that may have been incurred by Welsh Government during this project?
On 27 November 2017 I issued a written statement advising on the status of the A465 Section 2 scheme and provided a further update on 6 June 2018. I have not received any indication since that time that the total overspend on the project has increased or that the completion date has been further delayed.
My officials are continuing to actively manage the project to identify ways of mitigating the position and ensure the overspend is apportioned between Costain and Welsh Government strictly in accordance with the contract terms. My officials are working with Wales Audit Office who are undertaking a review of the project and who will report in due course. Work on the scheme is continuing at pace and the project is nearly three-quarters complete. Work on the eastern half of the scheme will be complete by early 2019 with the construction then focussed on completing the more complex section at Brynmawr and through the gorge. Glanbaiden interchange will be open to traffic in the next 2-3 weeks.