UPDATE - AUTUMN 2020
The cycleway works on Ditton Lane and Horningsea Road are now largely finished. However, a short section of shared use path on Ditton Lane still needs to be built. The works for this final section will begin on Thursday, 15 October 2020 and it is anticipated that the works will take between four and six weeks. The footway will be widened to between 2.2 and 2.5m on the east side of Ditton Lane along the section next to the paddock, south of High Ditch Road. This stretch of new shared-use foot/cycleway will complete the Ditton Lane and Links to East Cambridge scheme.
In order to widen the footway, the slope of the paddock embankment will be moved back and, along some sections, made slightly steeper. Our contractors will carry out the slope regrading works from the paddock and the footpath construction from the carriageway. A geotextile mesh will be used to help bind the top soil to the regraded slope. Hydroseeding (a mixture of grass seed and mulch) will also be applied to aid the binding process and encourage root development.
It has been agreed with Fen Ditton Parish Council that Daffodils (Narcissus Pseudo Obvallaris) bulbs will be planted along the embankment slope.
Traffic management
Temporary traffic signals will be required during part of the working hours – which will be off peak, 9.30am to 3.30pm. The temporary lights will help create a safe working environment for the contractors.
The east side footway along this section will be closed for most of the works period and pedestrians will be diverted onto the west side footway via a temporary signalised pedestrian crossing just south of High Ditch Road. Due to the close proximity of the temporary crossing to the permanent Toucan crossing north of High Ditch Road, the temporary crossing will replace the permanent one during working hours (9.30am to 3.30pm).
Compound
The west side of the South Cambridgeshire District Council car park on Ditton Lane has been secured for use as a temporary compound and site office for the sub-contractors. Parking for residents will still be available on the east side of the car park.
PROJECT SUMMARY
This project aims to improve cycling and walking on Ditton Lane and Horningsea Road. A shared-use foot and cycleway will be created between Fison Road and High Ditch Road on the east side of Ditton Lane. Works will also widen the current shared-use foot and cycleway on both sides of High Ditch Road and just north of Fen Ditton Primary School.
This new cycleway links with National Cycle Network 11 and 51 (NCN 11 & NCN 51), which crosses Ditton Lane near Fison Road and then runs parallel to the River Cam and connects the City Centre with East Cambridge.
This route is extensively used by cyclists heading to Newmarket Park & Ride and Marshalls. In the future, the new foot and cycleway is also likely to be used by those travelling to the Wing housing development by Newmarket Road.
Construction works for the scheme will begin in on Tuesday 28 August 2018. The programme of works is due to run until Spring 2019.
Improving walking and cycling links between Abbey and Fen Ditton to Marshalls, Newmarket Park & Ride and the future Wing development
BACKGROUND
A cycleway on Ditton Lane and Horningsea Road between Fison Road and Fen Ditton Primary School will encourage sustainable journeys to the school. This new route will also connect to the existing cycleway from Horningsea.
Works will include reinforcing the bank and will require the removal of the trees, which are in poor condition on top of the bank, in the area south of the High Street junction. The verge will be enhanced with bulb planting in a joint Parish and Greater Cambridge Partnership enterprise.
Works will also include renewing and replacing the fencing along the kerbline next to the new shared use foot and cycleway.
CONSTRUCTION WORKS
The works started on 3 September 2018 and following initial investigations and trial holes, works began at the northern end of the scheme near Fen Ditton Primary School.
The construction of the new shared-use foot/cycleways will involve moving utility services, diverting cables, repairs to the drainage network, and installing new, realigned kerbs.
Works include:
- a new toucan crossing north of the school; an upgrade of the puffin crossing near the High Street to a toucan crossing (a toucan crossing is for pedestrians and cyclists, whereas a puffin crossing is for pedestrians)
- widening the footpath on the east side of Ditton Lane, between Fison Road and High Ditch Road, from 1.5m to 2.3m or 2.5m to create a new shared-use foot/cycleway
- pedestrian and cycling improvements to the area around the Fison Road junction and Ditton Lane crossing
- widening of the shared-use foot/cycleway between Ditton Lane crossing and Ditton Meadows
- widening of the footway on the west side of the green area on Ditton Lane (south of the small car parking area next to 142 Ditton Lane) to create a shared-use foot/cycleway.
We apologise for any inconvenience these works cause. If you have an questions about the works please contact 01223 699906 or email contactus@greatercambridge.org.uk. Alternatively, please talk to the contractors on site or ring the phone number on the works road signs.
FUNDING
This cycleway project is currently allocated a budget of around £1m.
The budget will be reviewed as detailed measures are determined.
