Gilwern

The local area has a history of iron and lime production.^[5] The Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal, which has a wharf at Gilwern, was built to transport coal, limestone and iron products from the surrounding area using a network of tramways and railroads. The Clydach Railroad and the Llam-march Tramroad both serviced the wharf with materials gathered and produced further up the Clydach Gorge. Both are still visible, the former being a road and the latter a footpath between Gilwern and Clydach. The canal crosses the River Clydach on the Gilwern Aqueduct, an embankment over 90 feet high, just next to Gilwern Wharf.^[4] The former Navigation Inn and the Towpath Inn stand on either side of the canal just beyond the aqueduct.^[2]

Gilwern's precast-concrete arched bridge, on the A465, ('Head of Valleys Road'), between Gilwern and Brynmawr, is made of 70 individual units. The bridge structure is believed to be the widest-spanned, pre-cast concrete arched bridge in the world. It has 70 pre-cast units, each weighing 27.5 tons. Its approximated measurements are a total length of 173.4 ft.; a height of 20.6 feet; and a span of 95.9 feet.^{[citation needed]}

Three local residents were the first to drive over the bridge when it was formally opened, replacing a former junction, at 14.30 hrs., on Thursday, January 26, 2018. ^[6]

The precast arch over the canal on the Heysham to M6 motorway Link Road was the previous record holder.^{[citation needed]}

The Usk Valley Walk passes through Gilwern.^{[citation needed]}