The lower section of Andover Road in Newbury is being upgraded between the St John’s roundabout and Buckingham Road, where resurfacing works are being combined with improvements to the cycle route and parking.

Cyclists heading south away from town, are now taken off the carriageway immediately after the pedestrian crossing and are given priority across Old Newtown Road. This is a welcome improvement. The markings from the previous cycle lane had almost entirely been scrubbed away by encroaching vehicles, which illustrated how little room there was for cyclists at this point.

South of Old Newtown Road, there is a short section of shared path, which takes cyclists behind an enlarged parking bay and relocated bus bay, before the cycle route splits from the footway to run alongside the carriageway as before.  The route then drops back to carriageway level before reaching Wendan Road and continues as far as the pelican crossing. The route fizzles out beyond the crossing where the carriageway narrows.

In the northbound direction, the route is a continuous on-carriageway cycle lane, between Wendan Road and St John’s roundabout. Spokes has been assured that double yellow lines will be provided to prevent cars from parking in the cycle lane. This has been facilitated by providing the enlarged parking bay on the other side of the road to cater for those residents who have no off-road parking.

Other improvements that are expected imminently include improved cycle markings on the exit from St John’s roundabout and a smoother transition between the raised and on-carriageway sections of cycle route on the southbound approach to Wendan Road.

Spokes broadly welcomes the scheme, which addresses some long-running concerns, particularly with parking in the cycle lane. However, it’s by no means perfect – the southbound route around the tree and bus stop involves some significant changes of direction that slow cyclists down, the on-carriageway sections lack any sort of physical protection, and it would be good to have some cycle markings painted on the carriageway where the route crosses Wendan Road.