Durham County Council has been awarded £2.8m to be used with the intention of creating sustainable transport infrastructure in Durham City.
The investment, which has come from the Government's Transforming Cities Fund Programme, will be spent on a series of walking and cycling improvements at three locations in the city. The first in the programme of works includes improving and connecting the existing pedestrian and cyclist footways links between Old Pit Lane, Newton Hall and Rivergreen at Aykley Heads.
Funding will also be used to carry out walking and cycling improvements between Sniperley roundabout and County Hall via Southfield Way and the B6532. The final area where improvements will be made is Whitechurch junction on the A177 Stockton Road.
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It is hoped that the A177 works will make the road safer for pedestrians, with plans to improve crossing facilities to Durham University. The council is also looking at ways to improve cyclist provision along the A177 corridor and wider city centre.
Construction for the Southfield Way, B6532, and A177 is scheduled to take place during the school summer holidays with the intention of reducing impact on road users. Work in all locations is currently scheduled for completion by September.
Coun Martin Gannon, chair of the North East Joint Transport Committee, said he was pleased at the investment, and suggested that encouraging active travel could drive down carbon emissions and improve air quality locally, while improving public health.
He said: "Our ambitious programme is one of the largest in the country and centres on delivering transformational change for local people. This latest development is wonderful news and will make walking, wheeling and cycling in Durham City an appealing, sustainable choice for many residents.
Coun Elizabeth Scott, cabinet member for economy and partnerships added that she was delighted with the opportunity to make "significant" improvements to travel around the city, saying: "We are delighted to have been successful in our bid for funding. Hopefully, the enhancements will encourage residents to make the most of their local area and make more active choices with their commutes."
The second stage of the North East Transforming Cities Fund Programme is a £198m capital investment in public transport, sustainable transport and public places for the North East. It has been designed to transform and improve the local economy, environment and society.
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