WORK will begin next week on the final section of the Rhondda Fach walking and cycling route between Ferndale and Tylorstown.
This represents the final main section of the 10km active travel route to be built.
The new shared pathway will run from Maerdy through to Tylorstown, and is being delivered in five phases.
Phases one, two, four and five represent the primary active travel route, while phase three will provide a local link off it.
Phase four through Ferndale was recently opened to the public at the start of June 2025, following phases one and two through Maerdy in 2023 and 2024.
This final section of the route will be an upgraded 2.8km section of shared path between Ferndale and Tylorstown.
It will extend from the southernmost point of phase four, between Rhondda Fach Leisure Centre (Ferndale) and the Stanleytown over bridge, connecting to the Porth Relief Road community route at its southern end. This final phase of work will follow the route of the old railway line and create links to the sports centre and Tylorstown Surgery.
The council said that the route is relatively flat, with virtually all existing surfaces made up of gravel, stone and/or bare ground which will be upgraded with resurfacing.
Phase five also includes necessary work to two former railway bridges to retain the structures’ abutments and piers, while replacing the bridge decks.
During the work, the current pathway which will be upgraded in phase five will close to the public from June 23.
The southernmost section of phase four, starting at a point near the new pump track and Station Road, is also closing from the week commencing June 16.
The council said these closures are essential to ensure safety and that residents must respect the closures when they are put in place.
There will also be several contractor site accesses across the route.
The northernmost one will be near Station Road bridge in Ferndale, and at the southern end it will be under the Llanwonno Road bridge and via the car park to the rear of Tylorstown Surgery.
The contractor’s site compound will be located here, with all deliveries and construction traffic coordinated with the surgery to minimise disruption.
The paved area next to the playing field at Edmondes Street in Tylorstown will also be used as an additional access point and storage area with minimal disruption expected at this location.
The only available alternative route for pedestrians and cyclists across the phase five route is via the main road between Tylorstown and Ferndale (A4233).
Phase five is due for completion during early spring 2026.
