Costain have advised that they are doing some blasting to create the split-level dual carriageway section during Fri-Sat 29th-30th September and that access to Ogof Nant Rhin will be closed while this is happening - just for those two days.  Notices will be posted at the cave entrance, it is on the CCC website, and CCC will email all member club contacts.

The vibration levels will not exceed those created by earlier tests reported in the CCC newsletter for Oct 2016 here http://cambriancavingcouncil.org.uk/pdf/newsletters/51_oct2016.pdf
Nevertheless you don't want to be underground nearby when the bangs go off.

Stuart France
CCC Access/Conservation Officer

So if you were planning on a trip to Ogof Nant Rhin during the said weekend, pop over to Hidden Earth instead 

Maj.

Costain advises that their blasting job is delayed by a week.  So the closure dates for Ogof Nant Rhin have become Friday 6th October and Saturday 7th October.  Apologies if this date change upsets anyone's plans.

It also means one is available to attend the next BCA council meeting in Birmingham and have a Saturday pub lunch instead of going caving round here.

Stuart France
Cambrian Caving Council

Costain's blasting is scheduled for 9pm on Friday 6th October.  But the cave is also closed the following day (Saturday 7th) in case of any last minute delays in setting this off.

There will be data loggers in the cave (Ogof Nant Rhin) to record the vibration levels - which were minimal during the test bang a year ago. But just in case, the cave is going to be closed on Sunday 8th too, in case anything untoward is discovered when an underground inspection is carried out later that weekend.

Local cavers may have seen the "Mother Of All Cranes" working at the top of the Clydach Gorge last weekend as the process begins to lower the steel bridge sections into place that will span the gorge up there.  Impressive stuff.  There are viewing platforms on the Hafod Road (the level road that goes to Whitewalls from Brynmawr) for anyone interested, as there are still more bridge sections to be lowered into place soon.

The vibration logger has now been removed and the area checked for damage against photos from just before the blast and 3 years ago. No damage was noted.
A nice clean set of shot holes are now visible on the cliff face but these will be buried as the upper carriageway wall goes up.

It was a hefty blast aswel. Very interesting to witness!