Work has restarted on Swansea's The Kingsway project after coronavirus delays

Work has restarted on Swansea's infamous £12 million The Kingsway traffic project.

A small number of contractors returned to the city centre site on Monday, May 18, after work was delayed last month because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Construction will take place in line with current Welsh Government guidance on social distancing and safety measures during the pandemic.

Initially, the number of people working on site will be low but will slowly be increased in line with the latest guidelines, according to Swansea Council.

There will also be staggered start, finish and break times, more safety barriers and wider safety zones between workers and pedestrians.

Swansea Council said that any workers with coronavirus symptoms or those who live with those with symptoms will remain off site.

Construction on the city centre traffic scheme started in April, 2018, but it has been delayed on two occasions for reasons that were out of Swansea Council's control.

At the beginning of April, 2020, motorists in Swansea were told they would have to wait longer to travel in both directions around the city when the main contractor for the project, Griffiths, suspended work because they couldn't comply with the new social-distancing guidelines. 

Before the impact of coronavirus was felt, the two-way system was due to be switched from the current one-way traffic flow on April 5.

This was the second time the project faced delays after an earlier stall in March last year when the project's contractor, Dawnus, collapsed leaving the development part-completed.

Initially, the work is likely to include creating central islands in Grove Place and other infrastructure at the junction of Alexandra Road and Orchard Street, before progressing to road building, kerb reconfiguration, drainage channels and pedestrian crossings.

The current one-way system will remain in place until supply chains and safety measures allow for the planned switch from two-way traffic.

The Kingsway is edging closer to completion with the move, and some elements of the completed work such as wider pavements and shared cycleways / footpaths are expected to make social distancing easier once lockdown restrictions ease.

Councillor Mark Thomas, Swansea Council's cabinet member for environment and infrastructure management, said: "Work undertaken in the coming weeks will help us edge this important regeneration project forward.

"There'll be a close focus on safety and working strictly in line with up-to-date instructions from governments and industry bodies.

"Although the city centre's rejuvenation continues at this difficult time, the safety of personnel and the public is paramount. We will not rush things at the expense of safety and we ask motorists, pedestrians, businesses and residents to bear with us."

Some of the work will necessitate lane restrictions. Updates will be posted on Swansea Council's social media platforms.