The A5 at Ty Nant has reopened ahead of schedule after almost a year of emergency work.
Contractor Jones Brothers of Ruthin was called in by the Welsh Assembly Government in summer 2006 to carry out rock cutting remedial works.

The stability of the 600m long rock cutting on the Conwy-Denbighshire border was of concern and the road had been closed in the interest of public safety.

Jones Bros carried out the design as well as construction for the project by re-aligning the angle of the rock face, which rises to 34m high , from 75 degrees to a shallower angle of 34 degrees.

In doing so, the firm removed and recycled 230,000 tonnes of rock and alluvial deposits that lay on top of it. After the blasting process and rock remedial works were complete, the firm also rebuilt the carriageway.

Jones Bros contract manager, Andrew Aikman, who oversaw the project, said: “We competed against three national companies to win the contract on a quality submission.
“We were able to open the cutting to traffic three weeks ahead of schedule and to budget.
“Being a local company we are pleased with the outcome of the contract and the benefit to the local people of having the carriageway reopened.”

A total of 33,000 tonnes of rock removed was processed into roadstone and taken to Rhug to be used in construction of the new road and bridge; 33,000 tonnes is being used by the Forestry Commission for roads; 40,000 tonnes of overburden has been spread out to restore parts of the Moel y Faen Quarry, Horeshoe Pass, nr Llangollen, to heather moorland; and the remainder processed into roadstone and stockpiled at the quarry.

A family-owned company, Jones Bros employs 230 people and carries out civil engineering contracts across the UK. Its specialisms include trunk roads, industrial estate infrastructure, windfarms, sea defences and coastal and marine development.