Historic Leicester cycleway to be modernised

A historic cycling route in Leicester is set for an upgrade. The eastern side of the Melton Road cycle tracks, between Troon Way and Lanesborough Road, is to be repaired and “improved”, Leicester City Council said.

The segregated 1930s route was built to keep cyclists safe at a time when the use of cars was increasing. It will now be tidied up, resurfaced and have new crossings added, the authority said.

The council said it wanted to create a “safe and convenient two-way route for cyclists”. There will also be improvements made to junctions along the track which will “give priority at side roads to those walking or cycling” as part of the work.

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In addition, a new toucan crossing ­­– which allows cyclists to cross safely alongside pedestrians – will be installed in Melton Road, south of the Lanesborough Road junction. This work follows carriageway resurfacing which took place on Melton Road last year.

Equipment will start arriving on site next week, with work to upgrade the cycleway getting under way on Monday, April 29. The scheme will take around 14 weeks to complete, said the council.

While work is under way along the eastern side of Melton Road, cyclists will be diverted to the track on the western side of the road, which was upgraded last year. The improvements “will be carried out during off-peak hours to minimise disruption to all road users”, Leicester City Council added.

In addition to the upgrades for cyclists, the overall appearance of the road will also be spruced up. Redundant poles and signs will be removed as part of a decluttering exercise, bins will be upgraded, vegetation will be cut back and bollards will be repainted to smarten up the corridor, the authority said.

City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: “Leicester has a strong track record of success in bidding for Government funds to improve the city’s cycling and walking infrastructure. This latest scheme will revive an historic cycleway that has served cyclists well since the 1930s but, after 90 years, the old concrete track is now in a poor state of repair.

“A new, smooth tarmac surface will greatly improve the experience for cyclists and bring this important section of our cycling network up to modern standards.”

The Melton Road cycleway project has been funded with a £1.1m contribution from Active Travel England. The cash is part of an award of nearly £2.2 million that was successfully bid for by the city council in 2022. The money is also being spent on new cycleways and footpath improvements on Saffron Lane between Aylestone Road and Copinger Road.

Sir Peter added: “More than 18,000 people are estimated to make daily journeys by bike in Leicester, but one of the biggest barriers to regular walking and cycling is the need for safe and easy to follow direct routes. Providing off-road routes like these, together with more space for pedestrians, means everyone can travel safely – and sustainably – by bike or on foot.”

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