Scheme background: What is an Active Travel Zone?
Active Travel Zones are neighbourhoods that encourage active travel through a range of measures which calm or discourage traffic and instead prioritise people walking and cycling. Measures may include:
- Strategic road closures using modal filters, such as bollards or planters, to prevent rat running while retaining access for pedestrians and cyclists.
- Two-way in/one-way out where cars can enter and exit at one end of the road but only exit at the other, to help reduce rat-running.
- Echelon parking to save space and encourage slower traffic speeds.
- Contraflow cycling where cyclists are allowed to ride in both directions on a street that is one-way for cars, making cycling more convenient and offering safer alternatives to busy roads.
- Continuous footways where pedestrians and cyclists have priority over vehicles at junctions.
Scheme background: Why does Southampton need Active Travel Zones?
Streets in many residential neighbourhoods in Southampton are treated as short cuts by drivers avoiding main roads and often travelling at speed. In some streets, traffic data and residents report speed and volumes at unacceptably dangerous levels, making active travel intimidating; streets noisy; and socialising difficult for local neighbours and children.
The council is committed to improving road safety across the city and Active Travel Zones can support this by creating a safer, more attractive environment where people can walk and cycle with greater ease for shorter local journeys. Enabling more sustainable travel patterns in this way can also help to boost the council's wider aims to tackle pollution, reduce congestion and improve public health.
Scheme background: How was Woolston chosen?
We worked with a data specialist to identify residential areas across the city that would benefit from an Active Travel Zone. This process looked at the layout of the streets and local amenities and whether the measures which could be added as part of an Active Travel Zone would help more residents walk and cycle. The process also looked at the likely benefit that an Active Travel Zone could have on congestion, safety, health and wellbeing.
Scheme background: How is this project being funded?
The funding for this project comes from the Department for Transport’s Transforming Cities Fund. As this is grant funding, it is ringfenced specifically for the delivery of an Active Travel Zone and can’t be used for other transport schemes or other council services.
OBELISK/JOHN’S ROAD: How long will the works take to complete?
The works will start on Monday 6 March 2023 for approximately 21 weeks, aiming for completion of works in Obelisk Road/John’s Road in August 2023.
OBELISK/JOHN’S ROAD: What are the hours of the works?
The team’s working hours will be Monday to Friday from 7:00am to 5:00pm and 7:00am to 1:00pm on Saturdays.
OBELISK/JOHN’S ROAD: Will I be able to access my property during the works?
Affected residents will be contacted by letter in advance of the works starting to advise them of the planned access arrangements during the works.
The letter for works on Obelisk Road was sent out in mid-February 2023 and the details of this can be found as part of our February 2023 update here: Woolston & Itchen Active Travel Zone.
Letters for the works being carried out on John’s Road and for the resurfacing works on Obelisk Road will be sent to residents closer to the intended start dates.
OBELISK/JOHN’S ROAD: Will deliveries be possible during the works?
Access to all properties/businesses will be maintained for deliveries and guests, however, there may be times where a slight delay is experienced for a short period of time if works are being undertaken outside the entrance/egress of a property.
If you have any concerns, please speak to our team on site in advance of any large deliveries.
OBELISK/JOHN’S ROAD: Will I be able to access Woolston Infant School during the works?
During the third phase of our works (from approximately 15 June), there will be a road closure in place on Obelisk Road between Longmore Avenue and Bedford Avenue. As part of this the junction of Obelisk Road/West Road will be closed to vehicles and a signed diversion route will be in place.
Throughout our works, a pedestrian walkway will be maintained on Obelisk Road, including access to the footway from Obelisk Road into the school grounds.