This autumn, the existing cycleways and footpaths between Eling and Holbury, in the New Forest, will benefit from new Zebra crossings, a Toucan signal-controlled crossing and new signage. The upgrades will improve connections to and from Southampton, Totton, Marchwood, Hythe and Holbury by linking into the existing Southampton City Council Cycle Network “SCN” route 1. They are part of a series of travel improvements in the area with work due to start soon on safety enhancements, bus priority and walking and cycling improvements on the Marchwood Bypass and Rushington Roundabouts.
This £3.4 million scheme is being undertaken as part of the Department for Transport funded Transforming Cities Programme.
Work is due to start on Monday 9 October and is expected be completed in early 2024.
Councillor Nick Adams-King, the County Council’s Executive Lead Member for Universal Services, said: “We want to make it easier and more appealing to people to choose to leave their car at home, opting instead to cycle or walk, especially for shorter local journeys. When completed, the routes will be more comfortable and safer to use for walking and cycling to work, education and leisure. Greater use of routes like this means fewer cars on the road which greatly reduces carbon emissions, helping to tackle climate change.”
“I would like to thank everyone in advance for their patience and understanding whilst these improvement works are underway.”
Traffic management
Works will take place Monday to Friday from 8am-6pm and, if necessary, on Saturdays between 8am and 2pm.
During the works, Bury Lane will be temporarily closed, and a diversion will be in place via Jacobs Gutter Lane. Three-way temporary traffic lights will be in place 24/7 at this location with temporary controlled crossing points for pedestrians. This section is expected to be completed by early 2024.
Further information about the scheme together with updates about the planned timescales or traffic management arrangements are available at the County Council webpages at; https://bit.ly/eling-to-holbury-cycle-route.
