A FLAGSHIP new cycle path which lay half finished and was blamed for putting York youngsters in danger has been completed and officially opened, 18 months after work started.

The off-road cycle path between the Haxby Road and Wigginton Road roundabouts on the A1237 gives students at Joseph Rowntree School a safe route to use, and improves cycle and walking access to Clifton Moor.

Building work began in October 2013 and was due to finish in Spring 2014, but poor ground conditions meant the costs spiralled from £700,000 to £1.3 million, and difficulties in building a new bridge over the York to Scarborough railway line meant the path stopped part-way along the intended route.

Despite barriers at either end of the path, with signs saying it was closed, a stream of young people were walking along a narrow verge beside the road for months last year, close to passing traffic, raising fears for their safety.

Now the school has welcomed the whole route's completion.

Teacher Andy Faint said: "We’re delighted that this new off-road route is now open. It provides an even safer route to and from our school, which in turn will encourage even more of our students and staff to travel to school by bike. We’re very supportive about promoting sustainable travel - research shows those who cycle or walk to school can demonstrate a measurable increase in concentration that lasts for up to four hours."

It has also been welcomed by North Yorkshire Police as a way to reduce casualties on York roads.

City of York Council's transport boss Neil Ferris added: "York is one of the top cycling cities in the UK and we’re delighted that the route will be available ahead of the Tour de Yorkshire coming to the city this May.

"This is one of the largest investments in York’s cycling infrastructure since the introduction of the Orbital Cycle Route in 2011, using £1.3 million from the government funded i-Travel, and Local Transport Plan budgets.”

The council says the path will connect 15,000 people living in that area of York through safe cycle and walking routes.

Jonathan Gibson, senior development manager at the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust, added: “This investment will make York a better place to live and work and become more sustainable in transport terms.”

The new route is the flagship scheme of York council’s four-year i-Travel programme, made possible by £4.6 million of government funding.

York Press:
Youngsters cycle on the busy A1237 before the new path was finished