Colwyn Bay - Colwyn Bay Railway Bridge quoted as "a good place for a mugging.” to be redeveloped.

Colwyn Bay underpass work will not damage Prom Xtra success

• Aug 07, 2014 13:43
• By North Wales Daily Post

Redevelopment of underpass hindered by Network Rail

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The underpass in Colwyn Bay prom which runs under the railway line

Work has begun on renovating the underpass which links Colwyn Bay town centre to the waterfront.

As part of the extensive promenade redevelopment work, the underpass is getting a significant overhaul.

It is part of an attempt to encourage more visitors to the beach to visit the town and vice versa.

A spokeswoman for Conwy County Council said: “The renovation work is part of the current Phase 1b Promenade Enhancement Works, improving the link between the town and the waterfront is an important part of the regeneration aspirations of the Project.

“The work includes new surface finishes throughout; a new hand rail installed; existing landscaping cut back to open up the space; existing lamp columns refurbished; and in-ground up-lighting installed in the underpass itself.

“The contractors, Galliford Try, will keep a pedestrian route open through the underpass throughout the work.”

The anticipated completion date for this work is early September, after the Prom Xtra event on the Bank Holiday weekend in August, delayed from May owing to the promenade work.

Cllr Mike Priestley, cabinet member for environment, highways and sustainability, said: “We will be working with the contractor to ensure access for pedestrians attending Prom Xtra is as wide as possible but luckily there are other access points for the promenade.

“It is not ideal but we are limited to the amount of work we can undertake at any one time.”

He added: “The town link is an area we have wanted to tackle for some time to make it a more pleasant route.

“We are limited to the extent of the work we can carry out because it is under a very busy train route for Network Rail, and therefore structural changes are not in our gift.

“However I have written to them to see if any larger structural changes can be made to really transform the area.”

David Jones MP thinks the work is long overdue.

He wrote: “Sorely needed; someone once described it to me as a good place for a mugging.”