Portsmouth City Council is close to completing work on the shared path that runs between Aldwell Street and River’s Street to Somerstown Hub. This has created a wider and more open path for people walking, wheeling, cycling, or riding rental e-scooters, with path due to open by Friday 31 May. As well as a wider path, the route has also been made safer with enhanced lighting and the introduction of CCTV monitoring.
In addition to the improved shared path, a new blended crossing has been installed at Somers Road South, including a segregated cycle lane. This is designed to prioritise the safety of people walking or cycling, by encouraging vehicles to slow down when entering or exiting side roads and prompting them to give way to people crossing the road.
This work marks the completion of the second phase of the city’s East West Active Corridor scheme, aimed at creating safer and more accessible routes for people walking, wheeling, or cycling from the east of Portsea Island to the city centre. It follows work completed in 2023, including improved crossings and a protected cycle lane on Goldsmith Avenue, as well as a new ‘tiger crossing’ on Victoria Road North.
The project also included the planting of 25 new trees throughout the works, creating larger, more diverse green spaces which bring nature into the city and introduce more sensitive surface treatment for tree roots.
Cllr Peter Candlish, Cabinet Member for Transport, said:
“I’m pleased to see another step taken to improve cycling and walking routes in Portsmouth, making it safer and easier for everyone to travel around the city, especially in this busy and well-used route. The addition of new trees also contributes towards creating a greener and more pleasant environment in the city.”
Future phases of the project will now focus on expanding the route to The Hard, to create a joined up, safer route for walking and cycling from the east of the city to the west. For further details, please visit www.portsmouth.gov.uk/east-west-corridor