Work is set to start on one of two schemes to improve walking and cycling along two routes in Bath.
Separated cycle lanes are being created and improvements made for pedestrians along the A4 Upper Bristol Road with work scheduled later in the summer on the A36 Beckford Road scheme.
Residents and businesses have been written to about the Upper Bristol Road works which were due to start on July 11 but will now begin on July 18 and which are expected to finish later in the autumn.
Ahead of the main works replacement parking and loading bays will be installed in nearby areas from 5 July. This will then allow the removal of parking on Upper Bristol Road in order to start reconfiguring the road space for the dedicated cycle lanes.
The works on Upper Bristol Road include:
• Creating a separated cycle lane on both sides of the road between the junctions with Charlotte Street and Midland Road
• Improvements to the side road junctions to make them easier for pedestrians to cross, these are called continuous footways.
• Remove and replace the pelican crossing near Nile Street with a new wide zebra crossing nearby that can also be used by pedestrians and cyclists
• Reduce the speed limit to 20mph and improve the crossing island near Monmouth Place.
• Two new bus shelters will also be provided at the two stops in this section of road where there are currently none.
The A36 Beckford Road scheme will include:
• a new eastbound cycle lane separated from motor traffic created along Beckford Road
• Some on-street parking re-provided nearby
• Improvements to road crossings
Councillor Sarah Warren, cabinet member for Climate and Sustainable Travel, said “We are writing to residents and business to keep them informed about the work which will reallocate road space, giving more space to cyclists and pedestrians. We want to assure people living and working in Upper Bristol Road that every effort will be made to minimise noise and disruption. Our intention was to start on July 11 however this has been put back to the July 18 because another scheme which our contractors are working on has been delayed due to a water leak."
“The aim of the scheme, when it is completed, is to encourage more people to cycle or walk and in turn reduce congestion and improve air quality as we develop a larger improved cycle network across Bath and North East Somerset.
“As part of this scheme we are introducing cycle lanes that pass a bus on the kerb side. This means new types of ‘floating bus stops’ not seen before in Bath. All of us, whether on bikes, walking, using the bus or driving will need to get used to how these work and be mindful of each other.”
The works will be phased generally working from west to east. For more detailed information on the phasing and timing of our works will be made available on the Council's website at http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/upperbristolroad-works
More than 500 residents and businesses commented on the Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) advertising the proposed changes last December.
In the consultation 57 per cent of respondents supported or partially supported the Upper Bristol Road scheme, with 72 per cent supporting or partially supporting the Beckford Road scheme.
The majority of people who responded in favour of the proposals made reference to the need for safe and convenient infrastructure for cyclists and to create better places for people on foot. However, the most frequent concerns raised by people objecting to the proposals was related to the loss of on-street parking spaces and questioning the need for the cycle lanes.
Both schemes are being funded by £500,000 from the Government’s Active Travel Fund to enable more people to walk or cycle for local trips. The council submitted the successful bid to the Department for Transport through the West of England Combined Authority.
To see the orders please follow these links:
https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/beckford-road-traffic-regulation-order-tro-consultation/project-timeline
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