Tricky junction made better after £5.7m spent to help cyclists and walkers

A multimillion-pound project to improve road safety for pedestrians and cyclists has been completed in Nottingham. Nottingham City Council completed the £5.7 million project in Bilborough and Leen Valley, having commenced the works in July 2023.

The improvements were carried out along Beechdale Road and Hollington Road and were possible after the council's successful bid to the government's Transforming Cities Fund. A total of £590k was also contributed by Sustrans, a charity campaigning for safer walking, wheeling and cycling.

The project saw the replacement of the former cycle lanes with two new segregated routes on both roads, as well as improvements to junctions and pedestrian crossing facilities. Roads and pavements were also resurfaced to provide road users with a safer surface.

The central reservation was also removed to create more cycling space, allowing residents to turn left or right out of their drives where previously they could only turn one way. The new cycle lanes link with National Cycle Route 6 along Western Boulevard and the ring road, and on to destinations such as the Queen’s Medical Centre and the University of Nottingham.

The council is now looking to secure funding to continue improvements including a safe segregated cycle route on Wigman Road to Strelley Road, enabling safer and greener travel for those heading to Harvey Hadden and Bilborough College.

Nottingham City Council leader and executive member for strategic regeneration, transport and communications, Councillor Neghat Khan, said: "We want more people to get out of their cars and walk, scoot or cycle to where they’re going. This project is all about making it safer and easier for people to get around – and it contributes to our plan to reduce emissions from cars and be the first carbon-neutral city by 2028.

"The extended routes will play a vital role in enabling people living in and travelling through the area to travel affordably and sustainably. Around half of households in Nottingham do not have access to a car and creating enough space for people to walk and cycle safely is vital to our sustainable transport network."

Bilborough is also one of the areas taking part in the Travel Well pilot scheme, using funding from Active Travel England to put on free local events to help people get more active in their everyday lives. Other neighbourhoods included in the scheme include St Anns, Bulwell and Strelley.

An 18-year-old Bilborough College student said: "I really appreciated the cycle lane built near my house. This has made my commute from home near Beechdale to Bilborough College way safer." A Bilborough resident added: "I have used the new cycle path. It is fantastic and well-planned and makes cycling more enjoyable and safe.

"I’ve seen lots of people using it. I think the traffic flows much better now the work has finished and the narrow road makes those fast drivers slow down without having to punish everyone with those awful speed bumps."

Organisations in and around Bilborough and Leen Valley also benefit from access to the Workplace Travel Service, which can help with grants towards green travel improvements at workplaces. Improvements including secure cycle storage, pool e-bikes and EV chargers can be paid for via this scheme, with businesses receiving up to a 75 per cent funded grant and public sector and charity organisations receiving a 100 per cent funded grant.

Clare Maltby, Sustrans director for the Midlands and the East, said: "We’re delighted to see the completion of the Beechdale Road junction upgrade, having supported delivery of these improvements on the ground. At Sustrans, our vision is to make walking, wheeling and cycling easier for everyone, and with this project we’ve worked with Nottingham City Council to transform a tricky crossing into a more accessible and direct route, which is much more user-friendly for those walking and cycling."