A new cycle and pedestrian link between the University’s Colchester Campus and Wivenhoe has been officially opened.

The overall project has cost £1.9m as Essex County Council chose to bring forward resurfacing schemes and incurred higher costs for drainage than originally planned.

The new path – which is a shared-use, unsegregated cycle and pedestrian route – is already proving popular with cyclists and walkers with Colchester Road now resurfaced and opened to motorists.

The scheme, to which the University contributed £250,000, was completed by Essex County Council, which funded the balance, to make the journey between the University and Wivenhoe safer for both pedestrians and cyclists.

A Travel Survey conducted by the University of Essex indicated that more than 100 staff would think about travelling to work by bike when the link was completed.

Transport Policy Coordinator Charlotte Humphries said: “I’m really pleased that such a long anticipated project is now completed and the path is now open. As a University we encourage people to cycle and walk to our campus whenever possible and this off road cycle and pedestrian route will have a huge impact on the choices available to those travelling to the University.”

Cllr Rodney Bass, Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Infrastructure, said: “This cycle way project has proved to be difficult to construct and our staff have taken a lot of unfair criticism but I hope the investment will prove popular with the local community. I am very happy to see it open at last. The finished product is a fine example of top quality design and engineering and yet another improvement to the county’s roads”

The cycle way was opened by the Chairman of Essex County Council Cllr Norman Hume with Cllr Rodney Bass, Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Cllr Eddie Johnson Cabinet Member for Highways Delivery in attendance alongside the Mayor of Colchester and the Mayor of Wivenhoe plus councillors from Essex County Council,

Colchester Borough Council and Wivenhoe Town Council as well as representatives from the project team.

The new link is around 900m long and runs along the western side of Colchester Road. The project has included the installation of lighting, road widening and realignment, resurfacing, drainage, and the installation of new hedges, trees, fences plus a new Toucan crossing near The Flag pub to enable pedestrians and cyclists to cross the busy road in safety.

The Wivenhoe Society has specified and provided new trees and vegetation for which the County Council and the University are very grateful.