The route begins in Upper Boat just south of Pontypridd, at the junction with the A470 and A4054 roads.

It crosses the bridge in an easterly direction and continues along the road until it reaches the hill known locally as Power Station hill until it reaches a roundabout near the village of Tonteg after which it heads in a south westerly direction.

The Talbot Green by-pass was opened in 1991 to relieve traffic in the village through disabling access to or from Pontyclun via Cowbridge Road, and provided a shorter route for the A473 Bridgend to Pontypridd Road.

As the result of this completion the existing A473 from Gwaun Meisgyn to Treforest route was downgraded to the B4595 meaning that "Power Station hill" became part of the A473 Pontypridd to Bridgend route which also meant that the A473 now starts at the A470 junction at Upper Boat rather than Treforest.

It also meant that the A4058 in Treforest and Glyn Taff became part of the B4595 Treforest to Talbot Green route meaning that the A4058 will start from the junction at the A470 in Pontypridd and follows its usual route to Treorchy.