Better connected – a new cycling and walking route for Chandler’s Ford and Southampton communities

A new cycle and walking route linking Chandler’s Ford and Southampton has been given the go ahead by Hampshire County Council.

Councillor Rob Humby, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Environment and Transport, approved the detailed design for the £1.14 million scheme, which will see a three metre wide, two kilometre long off-road shared use cycleway/footway along Hut Hill. This will link Chandler’s Ford with Chilworth.

Councillor Humby said: “This route has been identified as a major cycle route and one of three north-south connections between Eastleigh district and Southampton used by cyclists. We know that the existing route is well used by cyclists, with more than 230 journeys a day being made.  It is an important link between large residential and employment areas, and provides access to schools, local amenities, and leisure facilities. These planned improvements mean that this facility will link to the top of The Avenue in Southampton, enabling more people to leave their cars at home and cycle or walk safely to their places of employment or education, contributing to improved air quality in the area.”

The detailed engineering design is for a shared use cycleway/footway. It is made up of the southern section of Bournemouth Road and Winchester Road, close to Hampshire Corporate Business Park and passes over the M27 motorway to connect with the northern end of The Avenue.

The scheme is being jointly developed and delivered by Hampshire County Council and Southampton City Council and funded in part from the Government’s Transforming Cities Fund awarded to the area.

Now the preliminary design has been undertaken, further public engagement will begin with a view to starting work by early autumn.

For more information visit the scheme web pages:https://www.hants.gov.uk/transport/transportschemes/huthillcycleroute

For more information about the Transforming Cities Fund, visit: https://www.hants.gov.uk/transport/strategies/fundingbids

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