Newport City Council has commenced work on two new active travel routes in the city.
The routes at Tredegar Park and Monkey Island will add to the city’s existing active travel network, providing residents with more opportunities to make journeys either on foot or by cycling.
The Tredegar Park route will run through the park continuing through the pedestrian subway to provide a link to the old golf course by the A48.
The route will also make use of the same low level lighting which has been installed on the recently completed active travel route in Coed Melyn Park, which was designed with the environment in mind and to minimise the effects of the lighting on wildlife.
The work on the Monkey Island ramp has also commenced following a public consultation last year.
The route through Monkey Island will include a new unsegregated bridge to connect the north footway of the main road, the open space area and the housing estate so people do not have to use the multiple crossings on the SDR junction.
It will also provide a safe and inclusive route from the riverside city circular route to the commercial and residential areas in Lliswerry as well as the new links on Corporation Road that were installed last year.
Cllr Roger Jeavons, deputy leader of the council, said “I’m pleased that we are able to announce the start of work on Newport’s latest active travel routes.
“Tredegar Park is one of our most popular sites, and we are hopeful that the new route here will only increase the numbers of people regularly visiting the park.
“It’s also pleasing to see the Monkey Island works get underway, which will provide much better connections from the south of the city to the city centre, helping residents avoid the very busy SDR which at that particular spot has been subject to a number of road traffic incidents.
“We want more people in Newport to make short journeys through walking or cycling, and we will continue to work with both residents and stakeholders on increasing our active travel network to encourage this.”
The work in Tredegar Park will cause some minor disruptions: footpath closures will be in place with diversion routes signposted accordingly, and leisure amenities in the park will be closed for the duration of the work.
The council is also currently consulting residents on the active travel network map within Newport. The consultation is seeking views on existing active travel routes, potential improvements to these routes, and where residents and stakeholders would like to see new routes established.
Residents can visit our consultation page now to have their say.
