The Peep O Day Lane cycleway (running from Abingdon Marina to Drayton) is to be closed from 3rd Feb 2020 for approximately 14 weeks so that the path can be upgraded. My guess is that will involve re-surfacing the path, cutting back vegetation, better signs and marking, and reflectors.
The off-road sections are being closed and not the section of road used by lorries going to the quarry. The diversion is via the cycleway up the Drayton Road and is marked.
This is all part of the larger Science Vale Cycling Network project. The project aims to provide better cycle connectivity between the employment centres at Harwell, Oxford, Milton Park and Culham Science Centre and the towns of Abingdon, Didcot, and Wantage within the Science Vale area. The improved routes for cyclists and pedestrians will make cycling a more attractive choice and encourage sustainable travel . For more information visit Science Vale Cycling Network.
Thank you to Andrew for letting me know.
Excellent news and long overdue. Only think of the benefits to us and the environment if we all felt we could cycle safely.
Thank you Andrew and Alastair
The Chinese can build a 2 story 1000 bed hospital in 10 days but it takes the OCC 14 weeks to resurface less than a mile of a Sustrans path.
How much money is this upgrade costing ?
I’ve tried to follow the Alternative route described in the TRO, but kept ending up in a ditch.
I could find no alternative short safe off road route to cycle between Abingdon and Sutton Courtney. (thats not deep in mud)
Looking at the Science Vale Cycling Network pages I see that the path from the swiiming pool to the lock is to be resurfaced at some stage. Will this be closed for 14 weeks to .
What about those of us who walk this route?
“ Share the route with a smile ! “. the instruction on the Canal du Midi path which is part of the Athens to Cadiz cycle path.
I was writing about the Science Vale Cycling Network project in general. The more safe ways we can cycle and walk to work, shops or for leisure the better for us all surely ?
Although improvements to the walking/cycling surface are welcome, I fear they will destroy the very pleasant and rural look and feel of the lane – particularly the stretch between the B4016 and Stonehill Lane. 14 weeks also seems a very long time to close a route much used by walkers and cyclists.
14 weeks?? The Chinese can build a hospital for 1,000 people in 6 days!
Why does everything take so long in this country?
This is great news, but the plan is missing key fixes. Apart from sharing the route with HGV’s the stretch outside the quarry is often particularly poor from deposits off the trucks, meaning you often need a change of clothing, footwear, and to clean your bike when you use it.
Through to Abingdon, Lombard Street, you can’t cycle along this National cycle route. Then crossing the A415 into Abbey Close, waiting vehicles must give way for other cars, but no such privilege is given to crossing pedestrians or cycles.
Andrew, rural look and feel is degraded with busy roads. I think better to focus on walking and cycling routes to make them as accessible to all, and take the pressure off roads.
Routes should to be accessible to people with mobility issues, people walking, and people on bikes. Narrow tracks with poor surfaces are not really fit for this purpose.
Phil – I totally agree. But it should be done in ways sensitive to the environment, wildlife and the aesthetic and traditional appeal of Peep O Day Lane. I fear this won’t happen. I have heard that their intention is to make the section 3B2 accessible to emergency vehicles. Whether this is true or not I don’t know. As usual it’s almost impossible to find any detailed information about what those responsible intend doing. If this is true, I guess they they would need to lay a wide Tarmac surface – something like the section 3B1 past the sewage works. In my opinion that so called “improvement” was done insensitively and left it looking rather ugly.
Although the section not being “improved ” is plenty wide enough it’s without doubt the worst part of that Lane surface wise.
If it’s open for emergency vehicles, unless its gated at either end it opens itself to more fly tipping.
30th April today and still closed, will it ever open again?
Mid May now and still closed?
Does anyone know if it’s still closed today? 20th may onwards. Also does anyone know if the stretch of path that runs by the railway in kennington along to the river is open yet?
I can say that the path next to the railway in Kennington is open (recently after chippings being added to the previously tarmacked and widened path) and is extremely popular!
Don’t know about peep o day lane.