Final touches to Bath Road shared cycleway

Transport
Bath Road’s new shared cycleway and footway, passing a bus stop with a new electronic travel information display

Finishing touches have now been made to the new shared footway and cycleway along Bath Road, Taplow, and it’s now open for use.

The £2.2 million scheme involved improvements to 1.8 miles of footway and widening the path to accommodate cyclists and pedestrians, aiming to make it easier for residents on foot or bike to catch the bus and train.

Construction, which started in April, also included installing a Toucan crossing at Lent Rise junction, refurbishing the traffic light junctions at Berry Hill and Station Road, and improving the drainage system along the route.

Electronic real-time passenger information displays were installed at seven bus stops along the route to give passengers up-to-the-minute information about their bus connections.

The route connects with national and local cycle networks, encouraging more people to walk or cycle to and from local rail stations served by new Crossrail services. It also connects to a section of cycleway further along Bath Road built by Slough Borough Council.

Mark Shaw, Buckinghamshire County Council Deputy Leader and Transport Cabinet Member, said: “I’m keen that we provide other ways to get around for people who prefer not to use their cars. We’ve been making good headway with projects like this across the county, and I’m delighted this latest scheme is now open for people to use.”

The scheme was paid for largely from ring-fenced Government local growth funding through Buckinghamshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), with support from developer contributions and the County Council’s capital maintenance programme. 

Richard Harrington, Chief Executive of Buckinghamshire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “We are proud to provide Local Growth Funds of £1.53m to help establish the A4 Bath Road Sustainable Travel scheme, which will improve cycling and walking access to a number of rail stations in the South Bucks area. The scheme also incorporates elements of bus infrastructure improvements, to help encourage bus-rail connectivity and to reduce car usage.”