Cycle route being extended

WORK is underway to make Bridgend town centre even more bike-friendly.

The national cycle route NCN 885, which runs from Sarn to Bridgend, is being extended along Brewery Lane to Angel Street so that it joins the safe route that connects to Newbridge Fields, Broadlands, Cefn Glas and Laleston.

Bridgend council said cyclists will be able to safely ride into the town centre along Brewery Lane, next to the Embassy car park and Bargain Booze, where the footway will be widened and new signage added.

Higher railings will be installed along the Dunraven Place footbridge to make the route suitable for cyclists as well as pedestrians.

On Angel Street, the loading bay in front of the Civic Offices will become a disabled parking bay, with the current on-street disabled parking bays being removed to help improve the traffic flow along the street, particularly for emergency service vehicles.

The riverside footway along Angel Street will also be widened and the railings by the Water Street Bridge will be raised so that they are safe to cycle next to, while the pelican crossing at the junction of Water Street and Angel Street will be converted to a toucan crossing suitable for cyclists.

Signage will be installed along the entire route to highlight the fact it will be shared by both pedestrians and cyclists, and signs will also direct cyclists to the bike racks that are available as part of the Rhiw development.

The work is due to be completed by the end of March.

Councillor Richard Young, cabinet member for communities, said: “Using funding from the Welsh Government’s Local Transport Fund programme, this work will complete a missing section of the national cycle network.”