March 18th 2014

Work has begun on widening, resurfacing and lighting the Riverside pedestrian cycle path between Raynesway Industrial Park and Alvaston Park.

The existing Riverside path will be widened to three metres and surfaced using tarmacadam. New cycle route signage and low voltage LED street lighting will be installed over the length of the path to improve the quality of the route and complement this extremely popular route into the City centre.

The £160,000 improvement work is to be funded from the Local Sustainable Transport Fund, which is being delivered locally by Connected, and work started on the 10th March 2014. The work will be carried out by the charity, Sustrans working in partnership with Derby City Council.  The path will remain open whilst the work is being carried but will be reduced in width in the location of the works.

A further improvement that is presently underway is the installation of a pump under Raynesway Bridge which will, in the event of heavy rain, pump water from the path improving safety for users and alleviating the need to take a lengthy diversion.

Mathew Easter, Sustrans Regional Director for the East Midlands said, “Sustrans is very pleased to be working in partnership with the City Council and Connected to improve this very well used section of riverside path, part of National Cycle Route 6. The improved path will benefit existing users and encourage greater use at all times of the year.”

Alvaston Ward Councillor Linda Winter said “I am really pleased that these improvements are being made for the safety and welfare of residents.  I support any initiative that improves services such as these to users of the path”.