Worcester’s MP has welcomed new funding announced this week for Worcester’s active travel network. The additional funding will add to work done in recent years to upgrade cycle and walking routes along the riverside, deliver a new cycling and walking bridge to the North of the city and improve connectivity over the Southern Link Road.
As the latest project to expand the active travel network across Worcester, the Department for Transport today [25 March 2024] announced £289,000 in further for active transport links between Diglis and the village Norton.
The new project will introduce two additional Toucan crossings, built for pedestrians and bikes, as well as a series of drop-kerb and tactile crossing installations. These improvements make it safer for those with visual and mobility impairments to travel safely within our community.
As part of the wider active travel upgrade done previously, this new route will link up with other routes forming a wider network. It will also integrate riverside development as part of the linking pathways between Diglis and Norton.
The funding also introduces new bollards, improving pedestrian safety along the route. Lastly, we will be introducing benches along Norton Road, an often overlooked yet essential addition to make our community more accessible to more elderly members of the Worcester community.
Commenting on the new funding, Worcester MP Robin Walker said;
“I am pleased to see the continued funding of active travel projects in Worcester, linking up with other areas of the city to produce a fully interlinked active travel community. I fought for Worcester to beneft from Towns Fund money for active travel and have worked with councillors to secure improvements to the riverside, the Diglis bridge and the new Kepax bridge. This investment will extend the cycling and walking routes along the river and improve Worcester’s connectivity.”
“This North South route will make better use of the additional crossings on the link road, another travel project completed during my time as MP, and will help form a better interconnected green transport network for Worcester. This comes on the back of £209 million funding for local rail infrastructure around Worcester train station, and £3.4 million in funding for Worcester Bus services to help both expand services across the community while maintaining the £2 bus fare cap.