Saints alive! Cyclists hit the trail across Cornwall thanks to National Highways funding
National Highways is continuing its investment to improve the safety of walkers and cyclists in the South West.
As a result of the company’s latest funding investment, cyclists, as this video footage shows, are now blazing a trail across the beautiful Cornish countryside thanks to large-scale investment from National Highways.
Cornwall Council’s Saints Trails initiative has been enabled by National Highways’ Designated Funding programme, providing a network of cycle paths between the coastline and Truro.
And now, as the country marks National Bike Week, National Highways has announced the completion of a newly opened cycling trail, close to three miles long between Perranporth and Goonhavern.
The Saints Trails initiative represents one of the largest ever cycling infrastructure investments in the South West and, together with walkers and horse riders, cyclists are now enjoying the benefits of safer travel across a beautiful part of Cornwall, which includes the former Perranporth to Chacewater railway line.
The company, responsible for England’s motorways and major A roads, pumped £11.3 million from its designated Users and communities fund into the Cornwall Council project, and the company’s funding will also provide a new cycleway between Sevenmilestone and Chiverton, linking up with a European Structural and Investment funded section from St Agnes.
As part of that project, Cornwall Council are also delivering a new trail from West Langarth to Threemilestone, including a new bridge over the A30 at Chiverton.
Hannah Sanderson, National Highways’ Project Director, said: “We’re committed to significantly improving safety across our road network, and the new and improved cycle and footpaths will offer easier and safer travel for cyclists and pedestrians.
“At National Highways, our work goes beyond operating, maintaining and improving roads. We’re investing in the environment and communities surrounding our network, as well as the people travelling and working on it.
“We were delighted to partner with Cornwall Council to realise this project – a glowing example of how this funding can make life better for communities living and working near our roads.”
Connor Donnithorne, Cornwall Council cabinet portfolio holder for transport, added: “We are committed to putting the infrastructure in place to give people more sustainable choices about how they travel. It’s not only good for the environment, but for our health too.”
National Highways has provided £6.2 million to Gloucestershire County Council towards their ongoing cycleway projects, and £1.2 million of funding for North Somerset Council’s Pier to Pier project to create a cycle path between Weston-super-Mare and Clevedon and complete the final part of the cycle route between Brean and Portishead.
Elsewhere in the South West, designated funding has already helped to provide safer journeys for cyclists:
• around M5 Junction 16 near Bristol;
• across seven miles of South Gloucestershire Council’s National Cycleway Network between Cribbs Causeway and Severn Beach;
• on the A35 in Bridport;
• Cycle Route 45 around the A303 Solstice Park near Amesbury;
• the A36 Southampton Road cycleway in Salisbury;
• and the Mowhay Footbridge and A38 Marsh Mills Interchange projects in Plymouth.
The company manages four designated funds, allocated by the Government, to deliver benefits above and beyond building, maintaining and operating England’s strategic roads.
From protecting the environment and enhancing the landscape around roads, to improving safety, reducing congestion, and supporting communities, the aim is to make a positive difference to people’s lives.
To find out more about the funding stream, go to National Highways’ Designated Funds web page.
Notes to Editors
National Highways is the wholly government-owned company responsible for modernising, maintaining and operating England’s motorways and major A roads.
Real-time traffic information for England’s motorways and major A roads is available via the Traffic England website, local and national radio travel bulletins, electronic road signs and mobile apps. Local Twitter services are also available.
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