New cycle lane near Cheltenham Racecourse will see A435 speed limit cut from 60mph to 40mph

The increasingly-familiar sight of green cycle lanes will soon be seen along another stretch of road in Gloucestershire. The distinctive cycle paths are already in place in Gloucester, around the junction of St Ann Way and Llanthony Road, and along the B4063 around Churchdown.

The next planned stage of the A435 Cheltenham to Bishop’s Cleeve Cycleway will run from the Cheltenham Racecourse roundabout to the Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Railway (GWSR) bridge. It will mean that the speed limit on the road will drop from 60mph to 40mph.

More than 1,200 metres of hedgerow is being removed to make way for the new cycle lane on the main road from the north of Cheltenham towards Bishop’s Cleeve. You can see computer generated images of how the new route will look in the images at the top of this article and below.

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A public share event will take place at Cheltenham Tigers Rugby Club, at Newlands Park Sports & Social Venue, Southam Lane, Southam, on Thursday (May 23) from 10am to 7pm. People will be able to review scheme plans and details of this next phase, known as Section 2 Phase 2, as well as speak to members of the project team to discuss the project and provide feedback.

This latest stage is designed to link seamlessly with Section 1 of the A435 Cheltenham to Bishop's Cleeve Cycleway, which is currently under construction between the Honeybourne Line and Cheltenham Racecourse roundabout, Section 2 has been divided into two phases. Phase 1 (north of the GWSR bridge) construction will begin in the summer of 2024, with Phase 2 (south of the bridge) set to follow in early 2025.

Section 2 of the A435 Cheltenham to Bishop's Cleeve Cycleway is set to introduce significant cycling and walking enhancements alongside the A435 Evesham Road, connecting Cheltenham Racecourse roundabout to Bishop's Cleeve. The improvements include:

• Installation of a new segregated cycleway and footway along the A435 Evesham Road

• Cyclist and pedestrian improvements at and adjacent to junctions and roundabouts, including new and improved crossing points

• Embankment stabilisation works around the GWSR railway bridge

• A new 40mph speed limit along A435 Evesham Road

The A435 Cheltenham] to Bishop's Cleeve Cycleway forms part of the Gloucestershire Cycle Spine, a project to create a 26-mile cycling and walking corridor extending across the county from Stroud in the south to Bishop's Cleeve in the north. Once completed, it will be the longest new facility of its type in the country. The scheme will contribute to a significant cycling and walking network across Gloucestershire, improving quality and connectivity.

Cllr David Gray, Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning, said: "We are eager to involve the community in shaping this next section of the A435 Cheltenham to Bishop's Cleeve Cycleway. The improvements support the council's ambitions for a Greener Gloucestershire, align with our aims of becoming carbon net zero by 2045, support improvements to public health and will make it easier for people to cycle and walk to work, homes and transport hubs."

The deadline for feedback on Section 2 Phase 2 of the A435 Cheltenham to Bishop's Cleeve Cycleway is by Thursday 20 June and can be emailed to majorprojects@gloucestershire.gov.uk or posted to Highways and Infrastructure, Major Projects Team, Shire Hall, Block 5, Floor 5, Gloucester GL1 2TG. The scheme plan and details are available online here where you can also sign up for email updates. A hard copy of the scheme plans can be requested by calling 0800 0514 4514.