Highways England announces new cycle and walking project in the South West
Highways England has announced that it is to fund a new Coastal Towns cycleways project in the South West.
The authority has awarded £1.3 million to North Somerset Council to help create a new mile-long walking and cycling path between Weston-super-Mare and Clevedon, to the west of the M5.
The hope is that It will reduce the distance to travel between the towns by around four miles for those cycling and walking, and provide a vital link between existing routes.
At the moment anyone currently wishing to cycle between the two towns has to negotiate a motorway junction and a busy A road.
But the new project will remove those challenges and add dedicated cycle facilities and a crossing of the River Yeo on the route.
Up to 55,000 trips per year are predicted on the new route.
North Somerset Council says the benefits of the scheme will, "not only reduce traffic around M5 Junction 21 and on the motorway, but also bring about a growth in the use of sustainable transport, improved air quality and a healthier society in general, linking up the 24 miles of cycle route from Brean to Portishead."
Elsewhere in the region, Highways England say designated funding has already provided safer journeys for cyclists around M5 Junction 16 near Bristol and Cycle Route 45 around the A303 Solstice Park near Amesbury.
The authority also has other ongoing schemes which include:
£17 million of funding invested to enable Cornwall Council to deliver four major cycle routes alongside the busy A30;
£1.2 million towards a cycle path upgrade and £1m towards the design of several other cycle routes around the Avonmouth area of Bristol;
£675,000 towards improved cycle and footpaths and upgraded crossings on both the A35 and Sea Road South around Bridport.