A472 (Great Britain)
The A472 is a cross valley link road in South Wales that runs west to east across the old South Wales coalfield from Treharris through Nelson, Ystrad Mynach, Maesycwmmer, Pontllanfraith, Newbridge, Crumlin, Hafodyrynys, Pontypool and thence into the Usk valley, through Little Mill and Usk to a junction with the A449.
It effectively covers a cross section of south east Wales from the post-industrial valleys to rural Monmouthshire, passing through small villages, larger towns, areas of relative prosperity and areas benefitting from redevelopment and it is a road that plays a part in that rejuvenation.
The road has been largely created from new and improved sections developed since 1980.
Between 1992 and 1994 a major by-pass was built to ease the bottleneck of traffic around Pontllanfraith. This dual carriageway runs from Maesycwmmer in the West through to Newbridge in the East and has links to Blackwood (via The Sirhowy Enterprise Way) and Newport.
Between Crumlin and Pontypool the road has been laid largely upon the trackbed of the disused Taff Vale Extension railway line.
The A472 is notorious for the Maesycwmmer crawl - a 4-mile section of the road which suffers heavy congestion during rush hour.
Junctions
| A472 | |||||
| Eastbound exits | Junction / Interchange | Westbound exits | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start of A472 | Quakers Yard Roundabout | Cardiff A470 Aberdare A4059 Merthyr Tydfil A470 | |||
| Cilfynydd A4054 Abercynon (B4275) Aberfan A4054 |
Fiddler's Elbow | Aberfan A4054 Cilfynydd A4054 Abercynon (B4275) | |||
| Nelson, Bedlinog B4255 | Nelson Roundabout | Nelson, Bedlinog B4255 | |||
| Nelson, Bedlinog B4255 | Wern Roundabout | Nelson B4255 | |||
| Council offices Gelligaer B4254 |
Tredomen Roundabout | Council offices Gelligaer B4254 | |||
| Ystrad Fawr, College Town centre |
Ystrad Mynach Roundabout | Town centre Llanbradach | |||
| Bargoed, Rhymney A469 | Cwmbach Roundabout | Bargoed, Rhymney A469 Caerphilly A469 | |||
| Caerphilly A469 Exit only |
Access only | ||||
| Fleur-de-Lys B4252 | Maesycwmmer Junction | Fleur-de-Lys B4252 | |||
| Rhymney A4049 | Crown Roundabout | Rhymney A4049 | |||
| Ynysddu B4251 Pontllanfraith B4251 |
Gelligroes Roundabout | Pontllanfraith B4251 Ynysddu B4251 | |||
| Tredegar, Blackwood, Newbridge, Pontllanfraith A4048 | Pentwyn-Mawr | Tredegar, Blackwood, Newbridge, Pontllanfraith A4048 | |||
| Start of A472 | Celynen Roundabout | Newbridge (avoiding low bridge) Abertillery, Brynmawr A467 Pontypool (A472) Ebbw Vale (A4046) Crosskeys, Newport A467 | |||
| Concurrent with A467 | |||||
| Newport A467 Newbridge (A472) Blackwood (A4048) Brynmawr A467 Ebbw Vale (A4046) |
Crumlin Junction | Start of A472 | |||
| Swffryd B4471 | Hafodyrynys Junction | Swffryd B4471 | |||
| Pontypool, Blaenavon A4043 | Pontypool Roundabout | Pontypool, Blaenavon A4043 | |||
| Griffithstown, Upper Race, Cwmnyscoy, College | Pontypool Interchange | Griffithstown, New Inn, Upper Race, Cwmnyscoy, College | |||
| Start of A472 | Pontymoile Roundabout | Abergavenny A4042 Usk (A472) Cwmbran, Newport A4042 (M4) | |||
| Concurrent with A4042 | |||||
| Abergavenny, Newport, Cwmbran A4042 | Little Mill Junction | Start of A472 | |||
| Abergavenny B4598 | Bridge Street Junction | Abergavenny B4598 | |||
| Chepstow, Gwernesney, Llandenny B4235 | Usk Junction | Chepstow, Gwernesney, Llandenny B4235 | |||
| Start of A472 | Usk Interchange | The MIDLANDS (M50) Monmouth A449 (A40) Cardiff (M4) Newport A449 | |||
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
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