Work has begun on a 12-month scheme to create cycle lanes on a Barrow road.
The project will see a dedicated route for cyclists on Abbey Road between Ramsden Square and the junction of Park Drive created
Westmorland & Furness Council said the route has been shaped by the views of local residents following a public consultation in 2023.
It will result in minimal changes to existing traffic lanes, which was a clear request from people during the consultation, the authority said.
New cycle lanes will be created within the existing wide pavements on both sides of Abbey Road.
The lanes will run behind bus stops to fully separate cyclists from motorists, while providing a dedicated space for pedestrians using public transport.
All junctions along the route will also be upgraded. Raised tables will be added at several side road junctions to help prioritise pedestrians and cyclists and to provide more convenient crossing points.
Parallel crossings and toucan crossings with dedicated space for pedestrians and cyclists will be provided elsewhere.
A Westmorland and Furness Council spokesman said: “The alignment of both the Abbey Road support those long-term Heart of Barrow ambitions by connecting residential areas with major employment and education sites such as BAE Systems, Furness General Hospital, Furness College and the town centre, as well as allowing better access to green spaces and the coast.
“We recognise that during the construction of the new active travel routes along Abbey Road there may be some disruption to journeys, with short lane closures to ensure the safety of contractors working on site.
“It is therefore inevitable that this will result in slightly slower than usual traffic flow at times, but traffic management will be in place to minimise the disruption. People planning to travel along Abbey Road should be aware of this and plan their journeys accordingly.
“These new active travel routes are an important part of helping to make travelling around the town safer, more sustainable and more accessible for everyone and contribute to the vision of a transformed town centre.”
