Active Travel Scheme on Western Avenue: Stage 1 between Oxford Road and Brummell Road/Robert Sandilands School, and at the end of Old Bath Road

Contents

• Initial consultation on the outline proposals - activity closed
• Consultation following the construction of the scheme - activity closed
• Who to contact

Initial consultation on outline proposals. Activity closed.

What we proposed

In August 2021, for the western section of the A4 Western Avenue, between Battle Close junction and Western Avenue/Oxford Road roundabout, we proposed the following:

• Reduce the width of the carriageway to provide space for segregated cycle tracks.
• Widen crossing islands for dual usage.
• Remove the staggered crossing island.
• Upgrade the life-expired signal equipment.

Kerb lines will also be realigned to make space for protected cycle lanes, and the staggered crossing is to be converted to a single stream crossing to remove the pinch point for cyclists. Footways will be decluttered and widened and separated from the new cycle lanes to prevent conflict between users. Pedestrians and cyclists will have priority over side roads by raised road humps and parallel zebra and cycle crossings.

The improvements have been designed according to the standards set out in the Cycle Infrastructure Design guidance provided by the Department for Transport (LTN1/20).

You can view the early concept drawing here [430KB] . 

You can see the provisional scheme here [2MB] .

What you told us

We received 47 responses to the online survey, with 29 (61%) respondents expressing a positive view of the proposal.

What we did

Following the close of the initial consultation, all feedback and suggestions were taken into consideration and, where appropriate, revisions made to the scheme to focus the cycle track upgrade on the north side of the road and to further upgrade pedestrian crossing points. Construction began on site in January 2022, and was completed in August 2022.

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Consultation following the construction of the scheme - Activity closed on 30 June 2023.

In August 2022, work was completed to improve footways, construct a cycleway, upgrade traffic signals and improve crossings and shared path sections, along A4 Western Avenue, between the Waitrose roundabout and the junctions with Brummell Road and Old Bath Road.

The works followed on from consultation carried out in 2021 and used Active Travel Funding from the Department for Transport. In designing and constructing this scheme, we listened to your feedback and revised our initial plans to focus the cycle track upgrade on the north side of the road and to further upgrade pedestrian crossing points.

The proposal concentrates on the western section of the A4 Western Avenue between Battle Close junction and Western Avenue/Oxford Road roundabout. We propose to:

• Reduce the width of the carriageway to provide space for segregated cycle tracks.
• Widen crossing islands for dual usage.
• Remove the staggered crossing island.
• Upgrade the life-expired signal equipment.

Kerb lines will also be realigned to make space for protected cycle lanes, and the staggered crossing is to be converted to a single stream crossing to remove the pinch point for cyclists. Footways will be decluttered and widened and separated from the new cycle lanes to prevent conflict between users. Pedestrians and cyclists will have priority over side roads by raised road humps and parallel zebra and cycle crossings.

The improvements have been designed according to the standards set out in the Cycle Infrastructure Design guidance provided by the Department for Transport (LTN1/20).

You can see the detailed design of the revised scheme here [2MB] .

If you have any questions about this project, please contact activetravel@westberks.gov.uk

For general enquiries about roadworks and maintenance visit our dedicated webpage.

What happens next

Your feedback on this scheme will help inform our consideration and development of proposals for future schemes in the local area and elsewhere in the district.

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