LOCALS have called the 23-year roadworks on the A465 Heads of the Valleys road in south Wales “the road to hell” as the Welsh government hailed its near completion today.

The 28-mile, £2 billion upgrade to the main road through the south Wales valleys, some of the country’s most deprived areas, will be finished this summer.

The Welsh government claims the new carriageway will improve accessibility, reduce journey times, provide extra resilience and reliability, and enhance road safety.