Construction work to make it easier and safer to walk and cycle between the Old Market roundabout, Castle Street and Tower Hill has been completed.
The area, known as the Old Market Gap, now has:
- wider and safer crossing points for people walking and cycling
- a segregated cycle route on Tower Hill with protected pedestrian spaces that connect Old Market roundabout and Castle Street
Councillor Ed Plowden, Chair of the Transport and Connectivity Committee said:
I am really pleased to see the new layout for this busy, central junction, which has been a missing link in the cycling network for many years, replacing a poor-quality subway. The area is now more walking and cycling friendly, which will make it easier for all road users to navigate, and I am optimistic we will see further ambitious schemes like this one throughout the city over coming years.
It is one of the many ways we are working to encourage more people to travel actively so they can receive all the health, wellbeing and economic benefits, while helping us to reduce congestion and air pollution in the city.
Although the construction work is complete, work to landscape the area will take place this summer and in the autumn. This will include planting shrubs and new trees.
The £1.2 million project has been funded by the West of England Combined Authority through a grant from the Department for Transport’s Active Travel Fund.
