The city of Kitakyushu will partially preserve 133-year-old railway remnants that it had planned to demolish in order to construct a new public facility, Mayor Kazuhisa Takeuchi announced Thursday.

The city will leave part of the Meiji Era (1868-1912) remains of the original Moji Station complex on site while relocating another part of it for display. The rest will be demolished to allow for the construction of a new five-story complex that consolidates several aging public facilities into one.

Sections of the foundation of what used to be the station¡¯s locomotive shed ¡ª which experts believe is the most important element of the remains, as it showcases a combination of European and Japanese construction techniques from the 19th century ¡ª will be kept and reburied onsite.

The parts to be relocated, which are at the border of reclaimed land and the original land at the time, were built using different methods based on different ground strength. They will be extracted and displayed underground using glass panels, according to the mayor.

The city will also showcase the excavation records inside the new facility, incorporate digital presentation methods and collaborate with local schools to pass on the remains¡¯ cultural significance to future generations, the mayor said. The city expects to start construction of the new facility in the fiscal year beginning in April 2025, aiming for completion by the end of March 2028.

¡°The decision was made while taking into account the history of Moji¡¯s heritage sites, minimizing the impact on construction work, and considering which parts are most appropriate to preserve within the constraints of reality,¡± Takeuchi said.

The city worries further delays to the new facility ¡ª construction had already been pushed back multiple times ¡ª could threaten the provision of essential public services. With the old facilities in question ranging from 40 to over 90 years old, some of them lack adequate earthquake-proofing and accessibility features.

The remains of the first Moji Station complex, which first opened in 1891, were discovered during a trial trenching that began in March 2023 as part of preparations for the city¡¯s ?12.2 billion ($79 million) new facility.

Since the discovery, the city has clashed with academics and community organizations over the preservation of the remains. The city assembly had previously blocked a budget for the partial relocation of the remains, saying the city¡¯s decision-making process was problematic. The city then moved to demolish the remains in their entirety to allow the planned construction to proceed.

The mayor has said the costs associated with the new plan will be included in the main construction expenses, with no additional expenditures anticipated.

Separately, the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), a nongovernment...