From Isle of Wight County Press - Friday 9th December 2011
Cross-town cycle route almost complete
WORK is underway on the last phase of a cycle route that will make cycling to and through the Isle of Wight’s county town much easier and safer.
The work by the Isle of Wight Council will complete the Cross Newport Cycle Route by establishing a designated link between Blackhouse Quay and Shide. It will provide the final piece in the route between Cowes and Sandown and form part of the wider National Cycle Route 23 between Reading and Sandown. The cost of the cross-Newport link is £180,000, which is being met by a grant from the transport charity Sustrans coupled with contributions towards sustainable transport links secured from developers. The work, which should be completed by Christmas, will include the resurfacing of Connie’s Way between Furrlongs and Shide, making it wider for joint pedestrian and cyclist use, and a segregated cycleway on the footway at Coppins Bridge. It also includes a new crossing at the bottom of Newport High Street that will allow cyclists to cross when the existing traffic lights onto Coppins Bridge are showing red. The council said the work will dramatically improve cycle access to the schools to the north of Newport and to the new Pan Meadows development as well as the town centre, bus station, Isle of Wight College and St Mary’s Hospital. Tim Thorne, chairman of Cyclewight, said: "The Island rightly markets itself as a cycle-friendly destination and this route clearly demonstrates the council is serious about promoting cycle travel for residents as well as visitors."