A472 road

The Crumlin Valley Colliery coal washery building on the A472 at Hafodyrynys between Crumlin and Pontypool

Congestion just before the Old Crumlin road junction between Hafodyrynys and Pontypool

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       Concurrency terminus       Incomplete access

Coordinates: 51°41′03″N 3°06′47″W / 51.6841°N 3.11308°W