Newcastle Labour has approved £735,000 of investment in the first phase of improvements to Heaton Road, including extending the protected cycleway and introducing new measures to make journeys safer for local residents.
The Labour-led council has agreed a package of improvements designed to provide better walking and cycling routes through Heaton while improving road safety for children, families and other residents.
The existing protected cycle route on Heaton Road will be extended from where it currently ends at Meldon Terrace to Cartington Terrace as the first phase of the scheme.
Labour’s longer-term plans would see the protected route continue all the way to the Corner House junction, subject to further funding being secured.
The scheme includes a new 20mph speed limit on Heaton Road between the Coast Road and Meldon Terrace.
Raised and shorter crossings will be introduced at junctions with side streets, helping make it easier and safer for pedestrians to cross.
Changes will also be made to bus-stop locations and on-street parking to improve traffic flow and visibility, while a new crossing facility will be provided at Simonside Terrace and Burlington Gardens.
The extended cycleway and road-safety measures will provide better links to nearby schools, giving more children and families the opportunity to walk and cycle safely and helping reduce the number of cars being used for the school run.
The route will also provide an important connection for residents travelling for work, shopping and leisure.
Cllr Ged Bell, Newcastle City Council’s Cabinet Member for Development, Transport and Neighbourhoods, said: “We’re making these changes to ensure that there are good quality and safe routes for people in Heaton to walk and cycle, including children and families travelling to and from school.
“It will still be possible for two-way traffic to use Heaton Road and for cars to park or access private driveways but these improvements are also aimed at reducing reliance on cars by making alternative travel options available to more people.
“We want to make it easier for more people to make that switch by ensuring there are good alternatives and safe routes available to them, such as this extended cycleway in Heaton.”
Work on the first phase of Labour’s £735,000 scheme is expected to begin next year.