Budding young engineer enjoys VIP trip to major bypass scheme22nd Mar 2011

A SCHOOLBOY who impressed engineers with his model of a digger has enjoyed a VIP trip to the Porthmadog bypass site to witness the £35m construction scheme in action.

Mikey Short, 9, visited the site of one of Wales’ largest construction projects currently being undertaken by a joint venture partnership of Balfour Beatty and Jones Bros Civil Engineering, with his mum Mandy and little sister Megan, 7.

The youngster, from Tywyn, was initially inspired by the coastal defence scheme in his hometown, carried out by Jones Bros last year.

Mum Mandy told how he became fascinated with the scheme whilst visiting the promenade to watch huge rocks being delivered by sea and transported to shore using specialist heavy-lifting gear.

He has since visited Jones Bros HQ in Ruthin where he enjoyed a tour of the premises and received his invite to Porthmadog.

“Mikey is so excited and knows exactly what we wants to be when he grows up,” said Mandy. “He was thrilled to be invited to see the Porthmadog bypass scheme in action as it is such an important project.

“Mikey’s passion is even rubbing off on his sister Megan who can name different pieces of plant machinery.”

Mikey visited the site of the Porthmadog bypass scheme to see how the multi-million pound development will ease traffic congestion in the north Wales tourist town.

He enjoyed a tour by Wyn Daniels, partnership project manager and his deputy Hefin Lloyd-Davies who explained how the 5.3km route runs parallel to the Cambrian coast mainline railway, crosses the Glaslyn estuary and skirts a working quarry.

The youngster, of Pen Morfa in Tywyn, was delighted to be presented with a mini digger by the Balfour Beatty and Jones Bros team.

“Mikey really seemed to enjoy his trip and it is great that we have hopefully inspired a future engineer,” said Wyn.