Key routes to be made one-way to improve safety
TWO key roads in a North Somerset seaside town are to be made one way to make the area safer for pedestrians and cyclists.
Hill Road and The Beach in the North Somerset town of Clevedon are to become one way with work starting on the scheme in January.
Pavements on one side of Hill Road, where the current parking bays are, will be widened.
Parking bays along the road will remain and a new contraflow cycle way created along with new pedestrian crossing points.
A 20mph speed limit will also be introduced and additional space for seating, planters and cycle racks included.
Disabled and loading bays will be installed along the street - a busy shopping area.
Hill Road businesses will be offered the opportunity to adopt ‘parklets’ semi-permanent platforms which offer traders the opportunity to ‘spill out’ onto parking bays to help aid the post-pandemic economic recovery.
Traffic along The Beach, which overlooks Clevedon Pier, will also be made one way and a 20mph speed limit introduced.
The move will allow pavements to be widened along the prom and a new dedicated cycle route - with 25 cycle stands - to be created.
The scheme also includes new crossing points and new landscaping and seating.
Additional parking will be provided along Elton Road along with extra bus stops.
Temporary social-distancing measures along both areas were put in last year in a bid to provide more space for pedestrians during the pandemic.
The move saw parking bays along Hill Road blocked off with bollards to give more space for pedestrians.
Parking bays along The Beach were also sectioned off with bollards to make more space.
The aim of the improvement scheme, costing £500,000, will provide more space for walking and cycling.
A consultation was launched in the spring, with more than 1,000 people having their say on the plans and resulting in the council making a number of tweaks.
North Somerset Council’s executive member with responsibility for sustainable travel Cllr Mike Solomon said: “The aim of this scheme is to improve The Beach and Hill Road for all users.
“By widening the pavement and providing more informal crossing places, along with lower traffic speeds, we hope to improve how everyone can move around the area.
“New segregated cycle lanes will help movement by bike and eventually form part of our aspirations for a pier to pier cycle route from Westonsuper-Mare to Clevedon.
“More outdoor seating and plants will enhance the pleasant streetscapes and aid economic recovery for local businesses.
“In order to deliver these changes some road space needs to be reallocated, resulting in a one-way layout for The Beach and Hill Road and car parking relocated to Elton Road.”
Work on installing the changes is due to start in January and expected to take 12 weeks.