Four Great Highways 

Project background

This new project aims to promote and enhance the four great highways of Llangollen, by providing landscape and engineering improvements works to enhance access, biodiversity and visibility to and interpretation of the Llangollen Canal and World Heritage Site, the former Ruabon to Barmouth railway line, the River Dee and Thomas Telford’s Historic Route: the London to Holyhead Road (A5). The aim is to improve the resident and visitor experience and encourage people to spend more time here. To achieve this, four key areas have been identified:

1. Wharf
2. Access points to the Wharf, Railway and Lower Dee Mill Park
3. Lower Dee Mill Park
4. Signage and Wayfinding

The works proposed in each of these key areas are likely to include:

• Implement improvements adjacent to the Wharf including seating, access and signage
• Improved signage to the Railway
• Improved accessibility and signage to Lower Dee Mill Park
• Enhancement, repair and reimagining Lower Dee Mill Park
• Improved visitor signage at key locations

Key points

• This is a new project to deliver enhancements to Llangollen's Four Great Highways
• This project is separate from the recent Castle Street extension works project and other on-going developments in Llangollen, but the design and delivery of this project is being considered, as relevant to other schemes being delivered in or near the town. The project is based on an initial concept design completed in 2019. This included lots of ideas, some of which have already been completed as part of the recent highways works. This project is now focusing on the 4 areas identified, which are the Wharf, access points to the Wharf, Railway and Lower Dee Mill Park, Lower Dee Mill Park, and Signage and Wayfinding
• The construction contract has now been awarded to OBR Construction
• Work is due to commence week beginning 5 February 2024
• The project is due to be completed by the end of August 2024

Current position

• July 2024: The project was initially due to complete by the end of June 2024. Unfortunately, despite carrying out ground investigations prior to the works commencing, we have encountered unexpected ground conditions both in Lower Dee Mill Park and at the Wharf. This has resulted in a re-design of the foundations under the existing steps in the park, and a re-design of the foundations including the introduction of a steel sub frame and concrete pile caps (a dense concrete pad that supports heavy structures in areas where the ground is soft) at the Wharf. Due to this delay, the planned completion date for the project is now end August 2024, however please be assured the contractor is working very hard to complete some aspects of the scheme sooner if and where possible. The signage and wayfinding aspect of the project will also be installed before the end of August 2024.
• News: 20 January 2024 - Temporary partial car park closure in Llangollen

Four Great Highways site compound layout plan (PDF, 245KB)

Gallery

What is happening?

Following a successful Levelling Up Fund (LUF) application, we are enhancing the public spaces that connect Llangollen’s Four Great Highways (Llangollen Canal, the old Ruabon to Barmouth Railway line, River Dee and A5 Holyhead Road). Some of the key priorities are improved accessibility, signage and better materials.

Four Great Highways: General Arrangement Plans - November 2023 (PDF, 1.71MB)

---

Llangollen Wharf

---

Lower Dee Mill Park Ramp

---

Lower Dee Mill Park

---

Interpretation and wayfinding designs feedback

Integrated interpretation and wayfinding: Small and narrow version

These are the designs for wayfinding posts. Wayfinding posts are used to help people navigate around an area.

This design shows a small, narrow post*. These could be put up in more places than bigger, wider signs. They could be used to show the history of an area, or to help people find their way around. We would make sure that the signs use colours which fit in with the area in which they are being put up.

* For illustrative purposes only.

Consultation

Information gathered from January and April’s consultations have been collated and presented in our Stakeholder and Community Engagement Summary Reports which can be viewed here:

Four Great Highways Stakeholder and Community Engagement Summary Report

The feedback received late last year on the wayfinding and interpretation designs has now been reviewed by the Project Board with a total of 37 responses received. The Project Team will now make a start on designing the signage to be installed within this scheme based on the clear views and preferences expressed within the feedback gathered.

Four Great Highways - wayfinding and interpretation feedback summary report February 2024 (PDF, 1.73MB)