Active travel takes centre stage in Sunderland city centre

CITY-CENTRE roadworks to improve pedestrian,cycling and driving safety while support ongoing developments at Riverside, Sunderland are being carried out.

The works are on St Mary’s Boulevard alongside St Mary’s multi-storey car park and, opposite it, the Holiday Inn hotel and are intended to be of particular benefit to those seeking active travel.

The first section of works will see one of the three eastbound lanes next to the multi-storey reallocated to increase the width of the shared footway for pedestrians and cyclists. This is to help improve safety and reduce conflict between pedestrians and cyclists at the multi-storey’s pedestrian entrance.

The box junction and traffic lights next to the multi-storey will remain.

Work, which begins after peak journey times from the start of February, is expected to take around eight weeks to complete.

A second set of works is then scheduled on the westbound carriageway of the boulevard alongside the Holiday Inn. This is to introduce a taxi lay-by and improve pedestrian and cycle connectivity at the crossing point between Keel Square, City Hall and the new Wear footbridge, which is due to open this summer.

This second set of works is expected to also take around eight weeks, with all works to be completed by June.

Sunderland City Council’s cabinet member for environment, transport and net zero, Coun Lindsey Leonard, said: “As we continue to deliver one of the UK’s most ambitious regeneration projects at Riverside Sunderland, we’re seeing more people living, visiting and working in our city centre.

“Footfall will increase significantly when Maker and Faber, the new footbridge, and Culture House open later this year and as development of the new Sunderland Eye Hospital, Vaux housing and Riverside Park continue at pace.

“We can also anticipate more pedestrians as we look forward to being a host city for the women’s rugby World Cup.

“We’re implementing these changes now to help encourage sustainable travel and improve safety for pedestrians, cyclists and other highway users.

“In addition, these changes support the delivery of our low carbon framework and City Plan that is creating a more dynamic, healthy, vibrant and smart Sunderland for all residents, businesses and visitors.”

Traffic management will be in place throughout the works to minimise disruption and keep workers and the public safe.