Walking and cycling improvements coming to Avonmouth

Sustrans has announced that it is working on a £5.8 million project to boost walking and cycling options for people living and working around the Avonmouth area of Bristol.

This project covers infrastructure improvements as well as behaviour change, with the funding from Highways England covering both aspects of the work.

The initiative will see the upgrade of three routes spanning a total of 10.7 kilometres around the M49. The routes, which will link with the National Cycle Network in the Severnside area, will provide:
– Upgrade of on-street cycling provision within Severn Beach, to improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians, including links to the existing National Cycle Network Routes 4 and 41, and upgrade of junctions
– Improved access for non-motorised users travelling from Severn Beach to businesses in Central Park and along National Cycle Network Route 4
– Upgrade of part of National Cycle Network Route 4, from Central Park to the A4018 near Cribbs Causeway, including improvements along Farm Lane, Bow Street Lane and Hollywood Lane
– Installation of a fully segregated bidirectional cycle lane along Avonmouth Way and Avonmouth Way West, with the introduction of cycle/pedestrian priority crossings
– Upgrade of National Cycle Network Route 41, along Lawrence Weston Road (between Merebank Road and Long Cross)

Sustrans is working in partnership with Mott MacDonald, South Gloucestershire Council, Bristol City Council and local social enterprise SevernNet to deliver the project. With SevernNet it is working with local businesses, the community and Travelwest to promote walking and cycling on both the new and existing routes within the local cycle network around Bristol. It is exploring bike loan schemes, better information, confidence-building activities and travel hubs to help more people out of their cars and onto the National Cycle Network.

James Cleeton, England director, South for Sustrans, said: “This is an extraordinary walking and cycling project. The funding not only covers design and construction but business engagement, behaviour change, monitoring and future maintenance, to maximise usage of the new infrastructure.

“This investment coming to Avonmouth and Severnside will have a huge impact on the ability of local people to access the jobs in the enterprise area without contributing to congestion or poor air quality.”

Kate Royston, director at SevernNet, added: “We are delighted that our ambitions for walking and cycling within the SevernNet area are now being developed. Transport without a car remains challenging across the Avonmouth Severnside Enterprise Area and working with Sustrans we will be making a significant advance for workers and residents in the area.”