LOCALS have called the 23-year roadworks on the A465 Heads of the Valleys road in south Wales “the road to hell” as the Welsh government hailed its near completion today.

The 28-mile, £2 billion upgrade to the main road through the south Wales valleys, some of the country’s most deprived areas, will be finished this summer.

The Welsh government claims the new carriageway will improve accessibility, reduce journey times, provide extra resilience and reliability, and enhance road safety.

Speaking on a visit to the A465 project, Transport Secretary Ken Skates said: “This project is an incredibly impressive piece of engineering and a fantastic example of how targeted investment in road infrastructure can provide jobs for the local community, improving accessibility, supporting education and skills, alongside delivering environmental benefits.

“It’s been a complex project which has not been without its challenges, and I would like to thank everyone who has played their part in helping us to deliver one of the largest road projects in the UK.”

Speaking on BBC Radio Wales, Dr Victoria Winkler said that the road itself would not improve the economic potential of the valleys.

“The Welsh government also needs to provide funding to refurbish the industrial parks along the new road,” she said.

The Welsh government has also lauded the environmental benefits of the project, including the relocation of species such as the great crested newt and marsh fritillary butterfly and the creation of new habitats to support these species as well as bats, dormouse and lapwings.

More than 55,000 trees have also been planted, with a total of 120,000 expected by the end of the project.