Plans for a major new cycling and pedestrian route in the north of the city have been revealed.
The scheme will provide a completely off-road link between Southway and Plymbridge Woods.
Beginning at Pendeen Crescent, the route will run past Southway Shopping Centre, up to the George Junction and then along Plymbridge Road, all the way to Plymbridge Woods.
The improvements will serve Oakwood Primary School and also connect Southway to the many employers located off Plymbridge Road.
New pedestrian crossings for Southway Drive are also in the plans.
A consultation period is now underway so that residents and businesses can feedback their views on the scheme.
Public consultation events on the project will be taking place at the George Park and Ride from 4pm to 7pm on Tuesday 8 January and from 10am to 1pm on Saturday 12 January.
Councillor Mark Coker, Cabinet member for Strategic Planning and Infrastructure, said: “These proposals represent another step forward in our plans to make walking and cycling a real option for people so that we are able to improve health, air quality, and congestion.”
Councillor Jeremy Goslin, Plymouth’s Walking and Cycling Champion, added: “This cross city will provide a great route to some of the most beautiful parts of the city and I look forward to hearing the views of the public during the consultation.”
The new route is designed to join up with the existing popular route 27, which snakes through Plymbridge Woods and up to Dartmoor, and also the improvements made as part of the Derriford Transport Scheme.
To help make Plymbridge Road safer for pedestrians and cyclists, the proposals include a reduction in the speed limit to 30 mph. There have been 23 accidents on Plymbridge Road in the last five years, three of which have resulted in serious casualties. Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents data shows that just a one mile-per-hour reduction in average speeds on faster urban roads can be expected to reduce accidents by 3 per cent.
The plans do involve the removal of some trees and vegetation, but replanting a range of native tree species, and giving people alternatives to driving will help ensure that the scheme is good news for the environment.
Cycling is becoming a more and more popular way of getting around Plymouth with Department for Transport statistics revealing a 56 per cent increase in the last seven years.
The majority of the funding for this project is being provided by the Growth Deal funding from the Department for Transport and also from Section 106 contributions.
You can find out more and tell us what you think about the plans by visiting our Southway to Plymbridge.