The A-465 motorway expansion project in sections 5 and 6 (Wales, United Kingdom) has won the Potencia 2025 Awards in the land infrastructure category. The project was designed and built by FCC, which has improved and extended the A-465 motorway between Hirwaun and Dowlais Top by 17.7 kilometres.

The works included 17.7 kilometres of new motorway, 6 kilometres of new secondary roads, 32 new bridges, 28 new retaining walls and more than one million euros in social and environmental sustainability projects in local communities.

FCC has developed an environmentally responsible project in which more than 120,000 trees and shrubs have been planted, new habitats have been created for crested newts, dormice, lapwings and bats, a plantation of the species ‘devil's scabious’ has been developed to promote the conservation of fritillary butterflies in the marshes; installed more than 90 bat boxes; built underpasses to help wildlife move safely; and promoted environmental awareness in local schools.

The project will improve traffic flow, making it safer, especially at crossings. This project will improve the economy of the area, particularly in the Ebbw Vale Enterprise Zone. Socially, its development has created around 2,000 jobs and boosted the local economy, with improved road connections. Economically, the local supply chain has seen an investment of £400 million during construction, of which more than £230 million has gone to the Heads of the Valleys region.

This project has won several international awards, such as the European PPP Deal of the Year Award, the Constructing Excellence in Wales Award in the ‘Delivering Innovation and Added Value’ category, the Construction Excellence Award in the United Kingdom, and many others.