Nearly £1 million funding boost for walking and cycling in Plymouth
The city is set to see a number of changes and improvements
Plymouth City Council has secured £945,250 for local walking and cycling improvements.
It's through the second phase of the Government's Active Travel Fund and follows the £249,000 awarded in the summer.
That money has already delivered a number of measures to encourage walking and cycling, as well as supporting social distancing.
These include a temporary cycle route through Armada Way, 35 new cycle lockers, ‘20mph when lights show’ signs outside 14 schools and cycle safety signs on key city roundabouts.
The emphasis of the second phase of funding is on schemes that support cycling and walking in the longer term.
The funding will be used to deliver or support a number of schemes, including the trial closure of the eastbound carriageway of Royal Parade to all traffic except buses, taxis, motorcycles and bicycles, with the aim of reducing the amount of vehicles along this busy stretch and improving safety for cyclists.
This temporary closure is expected to be introduced in late spring or early summer and will be closely monitored to understand its impact on all road users.
A contribution will also be made towards further tidal flood defence works along the Embankment, which will incorporate permanent improvements to the existing shared-use, off-road pedestrian and cycle way between Arnold's Point and Blagdon’s Meadow. These include widening and resurfacing the route and providing better signage.
Lighting will be installed on an east-west cycle route through Central Park, safety improvements will be made at the roundabout on Millbay Road, near the international ferryport and two new 20mph zones will be created in Laira and in Plympton.
Other measures will include:
- ‘20mph when lights show’ signs at a further 15 schools
- new cycle contraflows allowing cyclists to travel in both directions in one-way streets
- improved bicycle detectors at seven signalised junctions, with a view to introducing this newer technology in more locations around the city going forward
- a pedestrian crossing in Larkham Lane, Plympton
- a traffic calming scheme near Thornbury Primary School on Miller Way
- further steps to tackle physical barriers on walking and cycling routes, for example by reducing street furniture, sign posts and other obstructions
The funding will also be used to extend the council's free adult cycle training and bike maintenance sessions and eCargo bike loan scheme for businesses, (currently delivered through our Plymotion programme), supporting this key infrastructure investment.
Public engagement on the various measures will start in the New Year, with the majority of schemes being delivered between Summer 2021 and Spring 2022.