New £1million bridge is a lifeline to Tywi Valley community

A new £1million bridge has been completed near the village of Rhandirmwyn in the Tywi Valley.
It replaces the old Galltybere Bridge, which had been subject to a three tonne weight restriction, and is a lifeline for the local community.
The new two span bridge is 45 metres in length and has been built downstream of the Galltybere Bridge, which dates back to approximately 1925 and was the only means of access for a number of properties.
The construction works were carried out on behalf of the council by TRJ (Betws) Limited.
The project was made possible thanks to funding made available through the Local Government Borrowing Initiative (LGBI).
Executive Board Member for Technical Services Cllr Colin Evans said: “The new bridge can accommodate traffic up to 40 tonnes which is vital for rural communities such as this.
“This new bridge has been needed for some time and fortunately with the aid of LGBI funding it has now been made possible.”
Local authorities were able draw down a total of £170 million over three years as part of the LGBI to fund capital highway projects.
The Welsh Government provided revenue support to finance the cost of interest and capital repayments over a 22-year time frame.
A total of £12.4 million was made available to Carmarthenshire.
Local Member Cllr Tom Theophilus said he was delighted the new bridge had been finished. He added: “It has made a big difference to the local community.”