LANDORE: Bascule Bridge set to return to the Tawe as contractor appointed for final restoration phase

The 117-year-old Bascule Bridge is heading back to the River Tawe.

Swansea Council has appointed South Wales contractor Ian Davies Plant to deliver the final phase of the restoration, with construction expected to begin soon.

The last phase will repair the timber trestles that stand in the river, replace some elements of the bridge, and lift the historic steel span back into place using a specialist crane operation.

Once the work is complete, the bridge will reopen as a public footpath and cycle track, which the council says will improve access along the river corridor.

The 70-tonne span was removed from the river in an earlier phase of the project and conserved, alongside stabilisation work on the river timbers.

In April, the restored span was moved through the city overnight to a holding position near the Swansea.com Stadium, ready for its return.

Built in 1909 and designated as a Scheduled Monument, the bridge at Landore is described by the council as “a rare and significant part” of Swansea’s historic landscape.

Council leader Rob Stewart said the authority was delighted to be moving forward with the work on what he called the famous bascule bridge.

“This is a key part of our wider plans to regenerate the lower Swansea Valley while protecting and celebrating the city’s unique industrial heritage,” he said.

The council leader added that restoring the landmark would “help create a valuable new asset for residents and visitors”.

Cllr Stewart said the neighbouring Hafod-Morfa Copperworks site had the potential to become a major leisure destination. Penderyn’s distillery is already open there, the two historic engine houses are under restoration, and work is progressing on the laboratory building nearby.

He said the council was pushing forward with the wider Tawe corridor, with plans for more boating pontoons on the river. A new riverside walkway is also planned.

A major new tourism attraction is also under construction nearby. Cllr Stewart said the Swans planned new experiences for fans at the stadium.

Cllr Stewart said the area had “a fantastic future as part of the better Swansea we’re building”.

The council says the scheme forms part of its long-term ambition to revitalise the lower Swansea Valley, with the bridge earmarked as a key heritage feature of the copperworks site’s future.

Author

Kit Peters

Kit Peters is a journalist and the editor of Swansea Bay News, covering Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Carmarthenshire since 2020.