Contractors ‘spotted’ on Swansea’s Kingsway

IF you have spotted a few more contractors on Swansea’s Kingsway of late, you are probably not alone.

Staff from civil engineering firm Griffiths have joined council workers on the city centre street following the unexpected demise of Dawnus, which had been leading the £12 million project to redesign The Kingsway and some nearby streets.

The council has not appointed a new contractor as yet, but is expected to do so this month.
In the meantime, it has been using an existing agreement with Griffiths and another engineering firm, Hanson, to ensure progress continues.

Council leader Rob Stewart said he was grateful for the work undertaken via this Swansea Highways Partnership agreement.
He said: “The abrupt departure of Dawnus left us with a number of issues to tackle on site and they have been done with limited fuss and in a way which has kept these major streets safe, open and accessible to shoppers, businesses, motorists and pedestrians.

“We’re now in a position to award the contract for the remainder of the project’s main works. We aim to re-start those works before the end of May.”
The Kingsway is being transformed into a more attractive environment for people to live and work.

The project, which is part-funded by the Welsh European Funding Office, will result in The Kingsway and Orchard Street having a single lane in each direction.

Two-way traffic will also return to Mansel Street, De La Beche Street, Grove Place, Alexandra Road and Belle Vue Way.

The aim is to complete the project early next year, and will help prepare the groundwork for new high-tech offices at the former Oceana site on The Kingsway.

Russell Evan-Jones, who owns The Optic Shop, The Kingsway, said he wanted to see the revamp completed as soon as possible.
“Just get it done,” he said.

Pic. Richard Youle