Improvements to walking and cycling safety for local residents delivered on Glen Eyre Road
The Glen Eyre Quietway, running the length of Glen Eyre Road in Bassett, now provides a safer environment for residents, thanks to a range of new measures to slow traffic and make walking, wheeling and cycling a more attractive option for everyone
The Glen Eyre Quietway scheme is now complete and delivering the improvements that residents identified they wanted in a perceptions survey in September 2021. Made possible with funds from the government’s Transforming Cities Fund, the project has been delivered in three phases, starting in June of this year. Each phase focused on a section of Glen Eyre Road, in order to minimise disruption, with the third and final phase of works completed between Bassett Avenue and Chamberlain Halls.
The improvements on Glen Eyre Road will make the environment safer for people walking, wheeling and cycling. They include build outs, which reduce vehicle speed to provide additional safety for pedestrians crossing the road, a new timed pedestrian crossing on Burgess Road making it safer for everyone to cross the busy junction and a raised table on the corner of Violet Road that is also designed to slow traffic.
Councillor Eamonn Keogh, Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport said: “I am delighted with the outcome of the Glen Eyre Quietway project, which not only provides a safer environment for walking and cycling in the area by slowing through traffic but will also encourage more people to travel actively. I would like to thank residents for their patience during the construction period and the University of Southampton for their support of the project.”
Adam Tewkesbury, Associate Director for Environment and Sustainability at University of Southampton, said: “The Quietway scheme is another positive step towards an inclusive, user-friendly walking/cycling network in the city. It is exciting to see improvements to the Burgess Road/Glen Eyre Road junction, which has long been a barrier to walking and cycling between university campuses. The layout changes that have been made to that end of the road are a major step forward in terms of safety and accessibility, providing the space and visibility that pedestrians and cyclists need to travel with confidence.”
Traffic volume and speed in the area were concerns that were raised in the survey in September 2021. Residents were asked what could be improved in their area and over 60% said they would like to see traffic speed reduced. There was also strong support shown for improving facilities for people walking and cycling. 75% of respondents said they felt the council’s proposals to reduce through traffic and traffic speeds would have a positive effect on them, local businesses and the wider community.
The scheme also includes new cycle hire and e-scooter docking bays and electric vehicle charging points in the parking bays already created are soon to be added. To allow time for people to become accustomed to the new road infrastructure, some additional safety barriers will remain in place for a short period.
More information can be found at Glen Eyre Quietway scheme.
