#rivertawe — Public Fediverse posts

SWANSEA: Barges needed to build new £8m riverside cycle and walking path linking city centre to Swansea.com Stadium

A new walking and cycling route along the River Tawe has been given the green light by Swansea Council — with the project set to become one of the most ambitious pieces of active travel infrastructure the city has seen.

The path will run for a mile along the west bank of the Tawe, from a point north of the Tawe bridges through to the Hafod-Morfa Copperworks area — linking the city centre with the copperworks, Swansea.com Stadium and Morfa Retail Park for cyclists and pedestrians. It will be built in three phases and is expected to take three years to complete.

The total cost of the scheme, including design and project management, is £8.25 million. That will be funded through a combination of £6.6 million from the Welsh Government’s regional transport fund, £1.4 million from the UK Government, and a £250,000 developer contribution linked to a separate planning permission.

The council has confirmed the project will be a complex engineering undertaking. A new revetment — a reinforced structure to support the walkway along the riverbank — will need to be constructed, and sections of the work will have to be carried out from barges because of access restrictions along parts of the river corridor.

Once complete, the new path will connect with an existing stretch of shared-use path near the Hafod-Morfa Copperworks — an area undergoing a major heritage restoration that has attracted significant investment in recent years, including the arrival of Penderyn Distillery at the site. The new route will add to the 85 miles of shared-use paths already available across Swansea.

For cyclists and pedestrians, the route will offer a traffic-free connection between the city centre and a cluster of major destinations to the north — including Swansea.com Stadium, home of Swansea City AFC, and the growing Morfa Retail Park. The Hafod-Morfa Copperworks, one of Wales’ most significant industrial heritage sites, sits at the northern end of the route.

The three-phase approach to construction reflects both the engineering complexity of the project and the need to keep disruption manageable along a stretch of riverside that already attracts walkers and recreational users.

The Tawe path forms the headline project in a wider programme of cycling and walking investment confirmed for Swansea in 2026/27. Also included in the settlement is a £700,000 shared-use path linking Ffordd Beck in Gowerton to Pont Y Cob Road — a route that would finally deliver a safe connection between the two communities that has been in planning since 2022. At the moment there is no footpath between the two locations and the only provision for cyclists is a painted advisory route on a narrow main road.

A £500,000 upgrade of the existing shared-use path between Dunvant and Gowerton is also confirmed, widening the route to improve safety and capacity. Gowerton has been the focus of active travel investment in recent years — a new cycling and walking link to Gowerton station opened after significant delays, and the latest round of funding continues to build on that network.

Taken together, the three cycling and walking schemes represent a significant step forward for active travel connectivity across the western side of Swansea — connecting the city centre to the river corridor, and linking Gowerton more effectively to both Dunvant and Loughor.

Stuart Davies, Head of Service for Transport and Highways at Swansea Council, said the funding would enable the council to deliver “a wide range of transport related projects that will benefit motorists, public transport users as well as pedestrians and cyclists.”

The broader transport package for 2026/27 also includes a £750,000 e-bike hire scheme with up to 500 bikes to be made available for short trips across Swansea, further strengthening the active travel offer alongside the new infrastructure. Locations for the e-bike hire points have yet to be confirmed.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

New walking and cycling route proposed between Gowerton and Loughor
The long-planned Pont Y Cob Road route between Gowerton and Loughor — now funded for construction.

Gowerton’s long-awaited cycle and walking link to station finally opens after delays
The most recent active travel milestone in Gowerton, which the new investment builds on.

Penderyn Distillery handed keys to new Morfa Copperworks site in Swansea
One of the major regeneration projects at the northern end of the new Tawe riverside path.

New images show how heritage sites at Swansea’s Strand, Hafod Copperworks and museum could be transformed
The wider regeneration vision for the area at the northern end of the new Tawe path.

SWANSEA: ‘Big kit, tight planning, solid team’ — the contractors behind the Bascule Bridge’s successful move

The team that helped manoeuvre Swansea’s historic Bascule Bridge into its new temporary position has shared a behind-the-scenes look at the operation — giving residents a glimpse of what it takes to move a 70-tonne piece of Victorian history through a city.

Crynant Plant & Construction Ltd posted images of the operation on social media after working alongside Ian Davies Plant & Construction to shift the 120-year-old steel span from the Landore Park and Ride to a verge on Brunel Way — the latest step in the bridge’s painstaking restoration journey.

“Yesterday we were on a mission, helping out on one of their projects,” the company wrote. “The job involved moving a 70-ton section of a bascule bridge into position — definitely not your everyday lift. Big kit, tight planning, and a solid team effort all around.”

The move, which took place overnight, went smoothly — a relief given the complexity of the operation and the sensitivity of the structure involved. The bridge is a Grade II listed building and a Scheduled Ancient Monument, almost 120 years old, originally built in 1909 to carry a rail link across the River Tawe.

The steel span had been in storage at Landore Park and Ride while specialist restoration work was carried out on its damaged timber supports. It is now sitting on a verge at Brunel Way, ready to be lifted back into its permanent position once that timber restoration is complete — work which is expected to be finished early next year.

Once reinstated, the bridge will form part of a shared-use path crossing the River Tawe alongside Brunel Way, giving pedestrians and cyclists a historic link across the water for the first time in years.

The restoration is part of the wider regeneration of the Hafod-Morfa Copperworks site — one of Swansea’s most significant industrial heritage projects, bringing back to life the remains of what was once the largest copper works in the world.

The images shared by Crynant Plant show the scale of the operation — heavy machinery, careful positioning and a team working in close coordination to move a structure that has stood for more than a century without incident.

“Great to be part of it and see everything come together safely and smoothly,” the company added.

The bridge’s journey back to its home over the Tawe is now well advanced. Once the timber supports are repaired and the final lift is complete, one of Swansea’s most unusual historic structures will be open for people to use once more.

All images courtesy of Crynant Plant & Construction Ltd / Facebook.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Historic 70-tonne Bascule Bridge makes its move as restoration takes a major step forward
Swansea’s Grade II listed Bascule Bridge made its overnight journey through the city to its new temporary home on Brunel Way.

Restoration work on Swansea’s historic Bascule Bridge moves ahead
The latest on the bridge’s restoration and what the project means for the Hafod-Morfa Copperworks site.

Restoration work on historic Swansea bridge moves ahead
Earlier coverage of the painstaking process of bringing one of Swansea’s most unusual listed structures back to life.

Historic 70-tonne Bascule Bridge makes its move as restoration takes a major step forward

Drivers near the Swansea.com Stadium should expect disruption tonight as one of the city’s most unusual road users makes its journey through the streets — a 70-tonne Victorian bridge on the move.

Swansea’s historic Bascule Bridge will be transported from its temporary home at the Landore Park and Ride site to a verge on Brunel Way tonight, where it will wait to be lifted back into its permanent position over the River Tawe.

The move will begin at 9pm and is expected to be completed by 6am tomorrow morning. A rolling road closure will be in place on a short section of the A4217 near the stadium before moving on to Brunel Way, with local diversions set up along the route.

The almost 120-year-old steel span — a Grade II listed structure and Scheduled Ancient Monument — has been in storage while specialist restoration work is carried out on its damaged timber supports. That work is expected to be complete early next year, after which the bridge will be lifted back into place.

Once restored and reinstated, the Bascule Bridge will form part of a shared-use path alongside Brunel Way, crossing the River Tawe and giving pedestrians and cyclists a historic link across the water.

The bridge’s return is part of the wider restoration of the Hafod-Morfa Copperworks site — one of Swansea’s most significant industrial heritage projects, which is bringing back to life the remains of what was once the largest copper works in the world.

As Swansea Bay News has previously reported, the restoration of the Bascule Bridge has been a careful, painstaking process given its protected status. The structure cannot simply be repaired — every intervention must be sympathetic to its heritage value and approved in line with its listed building and scheduled monument designations.

Tonight’s move brings the bridge one significant step closer to the moment Swansea residents will be able to walk and cycle across it again for the first time in years.

Drivers in the area tonight are advised to allow extra time and follow the signed diversions.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Restoration work on Swansea’s historic Bascule Bridge moves ahead
The latest on the bridge’s restoration — and what the project means for the Hafod-Morfa Copperworks site.

Restoration work on historic Swansea bridge moves ahead
Earlier coverage of the painstaking process of bringing one of Swansea’s most unusual listed structures back to life.

New smart sensors rolled out to protect Swansea’s water users

According to the council, more than 40 Public Rescue Aid (PRA) units are now fitted with the technology at key waterside locations including the River Tawe and Swansea Marina, with further installations planned ahead of summer at Singleton Lake, Mumbles Promenade, Bracelet Bay, Caswell and Langland.

Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure, Councillor Andrew Stevens, said the sensors were proving “a simple but powerful way” to protect the public. He said missing or moved rescue equipment “puts the public at real risk”, and that the new system allows the council to respond faster and replace equipment sooner.

The council states that when a rescue aid is opened or disturbed, the system automatically alerts its Water Safety Team, who can then visit the site within 24 hours. This sits alongside the team’s routine two‑weekly physical inspections carried out throughout the year.

Water Safety Co‑ordinator Andrew Suter said the technology had already supported a real emergency response. He said he received a call from police about a rescue on the River Tawe involving a life ring, but the system had already notified him that the equipment had been opened, allowing the council to replace it the next day.

Swansea Council says the example highlights the partnership between its Water Safety Team and emergency services, and confirmed it will continue expanding the sensor network as part of its commitment to improving water safety and ensuring rescue equipment remains available and in good condition.

More Water Safety News

New sensors a ‘life-saver’ for water safety aids
How smart technology is helping Swansea Council protect the public.

Holiday park brings water safety lessons to schools
Initiative launched as Wales records the UK’s highest drowning figures.

Call for action as young people’s drowning deaths rise
New figures prompt renewed warnings from safety campaigners.

Council warns vandals are putting lives at risk
Swansea Council urges the public to stop tampering with rescue equipment.

Body recovered from River Tawe after major emergency response

South Wales Police said officers were called to Quay Parade at around 7.50am after reports that a person had entered the water. Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, the RNLI, Coastguard teams and the Welsh Ambulance Service were all deployed.

Shortly before 1.30pm, divers located and recovered the man’s body. Formal identification has yet to take place.

Multi‑agency search

The incident sparked a major response, with fire crews from Swansea Central, Carmarthen, Swansea West and Morriston stations working alongside police, Coastguard and RNLI teams to search the river and riverbanks.

The Mumbles RNLI confirmed that both its Inshore Lifeboat (ILB) and All‑Weather Lifeboat (ALB) launched at 8am to assist. The ALB provided safety and search cover at the river mouth, while the ILB supported fire service crews in searching the river itself.

A Welsh Ambulance Service spokesperson said:

“We were called today at approximately 7.40am to reports of an incident in the River Tawe, Swansea. We sent one emergency ambulance, one Cymru High Acuity Response Unit, one operations manager and a hazardous area response team to the scene.”

Police statement

In a social media update, South Wales Police confirmed:

“Officers were called to the River Tawe at Quay Parade, Swansea at around 7.50am today following a report of a person having entered the water. Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, The RNLI and the Coast Guard also attended. Shortly before 1.30pm, divers located a man’s body, which has now been recovered. Formal identification has yet to take place.”

Ongoing investigation

Police say enquiries are continuing and further details will be released once formal identification has been completed.

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