The first phase of a major £250,000 scheme to upgrade one of the Island’s busiest cycleways is progressing well.
Work to the 3.75 kilometre route between Shanklin and Wroxall has included the clearance of vegetation, new drainage work, resurfacing and widening of the shared path between Yarborough Road, Wroxall and Lower Hyde at Shankln. The scheme is one of the first major projects to be undertaken by the Isle of Wight Council using some of the £4 million Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF) grant secured by the authority to support green transport and tourism schemes and follows on from the major improvement of the Alverstone to Golf Links Road shared surface. 'Significant improvement' The current round of works on the Wroxall to Shanklin cycleway will last until the end of March when they will be suspended – with a temporary but useable surface in place for the summer. Both the interim and final road surfaces, which will have anti-skid properties, are suitable for all legitimate users. Councillor Edward Giles, cabinet member responsible for transport issues, said: “The money the council secured under the LSTF will enable us to make significant improvements to our sustainable transport network which in turn will make us an even more attractive ‘green’ tourism destination. “The work at Shanklin to Wroxall will significantly upgrade what is already a busy cyclepath. The project will not only improve accessibility and highway safety, but also promote sustainable travel for commuters, school pupils and visitors to the Island.” Consultation The plan has been devised following consultation with local Isle of Wight Council members as well as the relevant town and parish councils The track will remain closed until the end of March to allow the first phase of works to be completed. The final surface is primarily designed for cyclists and pedestrians with the route forming part of the Island’s cycle route network and is not – nor has ever been - a designated bridleway. Technically, the route is not available for equestrians. Isle of Wight Council head of highways Peter Hayward, said: “Because of the scale of the improvements we are undertaking, there has been some disruption to users as we have had to restrict access as the improvement work could prove hazardous to users. “We apologise for any inconvenience but hope most people would appreciate the reasons for the restrictions and think a little inconvenience now is worth it given the very high quality multi-use transport link that will shortly be available.”
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