Lane Closures Imminent On West Way For Improvement Works

On-going highway improvements on West Way in Swansea city centre mean traffic management will be in place from the weekend. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Work will start after 4pm on Sunday June 5 on a new layout close to the bus station that will enable buses to use general traffic lanes in future. The dedicated bus lanes north of Wellington Street and Clarence Terrace will be removed. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

These works mean traffic will be restricted to one lane in both directions on West Way between Clarence Terrace/Wellington Street and Oxford Street until the new layout is finished. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The work has been deliberately programmed to start after 4pm on Sunday to coincide with the temporary closure of Oystermouth Road for the Swansea Triathlon and minimise further disruption for motorists on the day. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Similar lane closures will then be in place until the end of July to allow works on this phase of the project to progress. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Swansea Council is behind the West Way improvement scheme, with funding from the Welsh Government’s Vibrant and Viable Places Swansea City Centre Regeneration programme that was awarded in June, 2014. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The overall project, expected to last until the autumn, will also lead to better pedestrian crossings over West Way, more greenery and better traffic flows because of a planned reduction in traffic light phasing. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A new pedestrian crossing has already opened between the bus station and the rear of the Grand Theatre to enable direct access from West Way to Singleton Street via the covered walkway. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A Swansea Council spokesperson said: “The improvement works on West Way will benefit motorists as well as pedestrians who pass between the city centre and the Sandfields community every day. They’ll also improve the appearance of the busy city centre road by introducing more greenery and other environmental enhancements. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The nature of the work means traffic management is necessary, but we’ll do our best to minimise disruption and are keeping nearby businesses informed. It’s very much business as usual for businesses in the area while the works on West Way are on-going.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Trees will be planted along the route and a new footpath adjacent to the bus station perimeter facing West Way will be opened in coming weeks. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Work has also been taking place over the last week to enable vehicles to turn right from Glamorgan Street onto Mumbles Road. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​