Roadworks for Harrogate pop-up cycle lane start today

North Yorkshire County Council has confirmed roadworks are being carried out on Beech Grove today (2 September) and tomorrow (3 September) ahead of the installation of the temporary cycle lane later this month.

It is being built as part of a drive to boost active travel as the district emerges from lockdown and works were scheduled to have started in August.

The cycle lane should take six weeks to be built once the roadworks are completed, the council said.

It will remain in place for six months and could become permanent if it proves to be a success.

Melisa Burnham, highways area manager, said: “We are keen to see this in place quickly and will confirm a start date as soon as possible.”

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The project is part of the council's first round bid to the Department for Transport’s (DfT) emergency active travel fund to which it only secured half of the £266,000 it was being offered.

Once the lane is completed and at the end of the trial, a decision will be made by councillors on whether to make it permanent.

Mrs Burnham previously said: “The six-month trial will effectively give us a consultation period during which people can give their views on the cycle lane.

"Were it to become permanent, it would also link directly with the Otley Route cycle route, which is being developed, creating a seamless route into the centre of the town."

It comes as the council is awaiting a decision on its second round bid to the DfT fund where more than £1m is being made available for longer term improvements for cycling and walking.

Harrogate featured as high priority in the plans with the town taking up three of five major schemes put forward for the entire county.

These include around 1.5 miles of cycle lanes and better pedestrian crossings on Oatlands Drive, Victoria Avenue and the A59 between Harrogate and Knaresborough.

By Jacob Webster, Local Democracy Reporter