Coast Road Cycleway Scheme
Work is continuing along the Coast Road (A183) to carry out improvements to the existing cycleway and footway.
Contents
Overview
Work is continuing along the Coast Road (A183) to carry out improvements to the existing cycleway and footway provision.
The work commenced at Marsden Bay, from the recently completed Road Alignment Scheme, progressing northwards for approx. 2 miles, and finishing adjacent to the New Crown roundabout.
The route is part of the National Cycle Network (NCN1).
This £2 million scheme is mostly funded by the Active Travel Fund, and is now forecast to be complete in winter 2024.
What we are doing
The scheme involves widening the footpath and cycleway to a minimum width, where possible, of two metres each.
The space required to enable the widening is being provided by a slight narrowing of the existing road lane widths. The existing car parking facilities have been slightly repositioned but have been fully maintained.
Signalised pedestrian on-demand road crossings have been added along the Coast Road (A183) to improve connections to local residential areas and enable easier crossing of the road by pedestrians.
The existing stone bus shelters to the coast side of the road are also being replaced with 'perspex' type shelters to improve visibility and general safety.
Due to a layout reconfiguration, the south bound bus stop south of the Redwell Lane roundabout has been removed but two new bus stops with shelters, are being installed on Redwell Bank.
Additional seating and cycle stands are also being provided in some locations along the route.
The entrance to Marsden Grotto car park is also simplified to improve safety and give pedestrians and cyclists priority when crossing.
The council has commissioned independent Lighting and Ecology Impact Assessments, as well as a Habitat Regulation Assessment to be undertaken, following detailed feedback from residents.
The lighting Impact Assessment is now available and can be accessed below.
The remaining assessments will be uploaded as soon as they are available. These reports will help to inform any proposals for the lighting going forward.
Lighting Impact Assessment (NCN1 Cycleway, Coast Road, South Shields)
An update letter for all local residents will be sent out on Monday 28 October 2024.
Roadworks
The cycleway / footway has been kept open for the duration of the scheme with local diversions utilised where required to enable the sections of work to safely progress.
It is not planned to close the Coast Road during the works but temporary signals will continue to be used for the duration of the scheme to enable the works to be safely carried out.
Road surfacing has required unavoidable short term road overnight closures.
These were kept to an absolute minimum and with any noisier works being undertaken as early as possible during the closures.
Timescales
Construction started in late November 2023, and following some delays, is expected to finish in winter 2024.
The work is taking place in 3 phases which commenced south of the Marsden Grotto car park and working northwards, finishing at the New Crown roundabout.
Contact us
For more information please contact ncn1.cycleway@southtyneside.gov.uk.