Councillor hails plans to create a 'cycling super…

Councillor hails plans to create a 'cycling super highway' through Northumberland

Plans to create a cycling "super highway" connecting the North East and North West have been welcomed by leading councillors.

The proposal is part of a £500m package to boost walking and cycling across the North East, and would connect Newcastle to Carlisle, crossing through south west Northumberland.

The plans were revealed by transport chiefs last month as they set out their strategy to increase the number of short, active journeys in the region by 45% by 2035.

Coun John Riddle, Northumberland County Council's cabinet member for local services, welcomed the plans - but said he would continue to push for more investment into the A69 road that connects the two cities.

Coun Riddle said: "I welcome this major project and will follow its progress with interest. It will create a beautiful route across the country with huge benefits for many communities.

"Rail and road transport as well as the popular Hadrian's Wall walking route are in place already and this will provide a very different alternative. I hope to see more major investment into the A69 road being made, and I will continue to push for this."

Campaigners have long pushed for the A69 to be dualled west of Hexham in order to reduce collisions along the route to Carlisle. Over the years there have been a number of fatal crashes along the road.

Transport bosses believe that increasing the number of active journeys could prevent 1,000 premature deaths over the next 12 years, save 80,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually, and swell the region’s economy by £350m every year.

A number of other measures, most of which are not funded at this stage, have also been mooted as ways to get people to get out of their cars, including:

Removal of the Gateshead flyover and construction of tree-lined boulevard in its place, with other upgrades to the pedestrian, cycle and public transport environment heading towards the Tyne Bridge;
A regional cycle and e-bike here scheme, with hubs located at transport interchanges, employment sites, town and city centres, and residential areas around the North East;
Upgraded and new walking and cycle routes across the region – including around Alnwick, Blyth, Whitley Bay, Wallsend, central Newcastle, Washington, Durham city, and rural areas across Northumberland and County Durham;
A network of secure cycle lockers that are smart enabled across Metro stations, bus interchanges and rail stations;
A new footbridge linking the Vaux development site in Sunderland to the Stadium of Light and a subway linking the St Peter’s area and Bonnersfield development site with St Peter’s Metro and the Stadium Village;
Creation of a cycling “superhighway” running between Newcastle and Carlisle;
New bridges over major motorways and A roads.

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