Residents living in a South Wales village are being invited to find out more about a new footbridge which is to be installed across the main line running between Cardiff Central and Swansea.

A drop-in event is being organised to allow people in Llanharan to learn about the installation which will be near Trenos level crossing.

A site compound is in the process of being set up by the contractor Taziker and ground investigations are already under way prior to construction work beginning.

Members of the Network Rail team will be present at Bryncae Community Centre, which is in Powell Drive, Llanharan, between 17.00 and 19.00 on Thursday 28 September. Anyone visiting will be provided with information about the bridge, which will have both steps and a ramp, and will improve safety at the level crossing. It will also, eventually, form part of the nearby bridleway.

During construction work, while Llanharan station will remain open, Trenos level crossing will be temporarily closed.  Users will be asked to use Bryn-y-Gwynnon crossing or the existing bridge at Llanharan.  Once work is completed in spring 2024, the Trenos crossing will be permanently diverted across it.  This not only increases safety but will also result in improved passenger journeys as a temporary speed restriction will be removed from the railway.

Network Rail programme manager Gordon Keyes said: “We are encouraging members of the community to come along to the event to find out more about the work. Residents can drop in any time between 5pm and 7pm and we’ll be on hand to answer any questions they may have.  We appreciate we will be working close to people’s homes and we’ll do everything we can to minimise noise and disruption.

“The new bridge at this popular and busy section of the network has been designed for the whole community. It will provide a safer method of crossing the railway for users, including pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders.”