The Two Tunnels Greenway is a proposed shared use path for walking and cycling in Bath, Somerset, England.[1]
The Two Tunnels Greenway is a proposed shared use path for walking and cycling in Bath, Somerset, England.[1]
The route will follow the disused railway trackbed of the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway from East Twerton through the Bath suburb of Oldfield Park to the Devonshire Tunnel. It will then emerge into Lyncombe Vale before entering the Combe Down Tunnel, and then coming out to cross Tucking Mill Viaduct into Midford.[2] The new route will link Bath and the National Cycle Route 24, 2.5 miles (4 km) south of the city.
NCN24, crossing Midford viaduct, at the south end of the 'Two Tunnels' route, opened in 2005. Sustainable transport charity Sustrans has met with success with its bid for National Lottery funding to start construction of the route.[1] A 'Two Tunnels Steering Group' has been established, consisting of the Two Tunnels group, Bath and North East Somerset Council and Sustrans, to ensure the route's successful development.[3]
In June 2009 the major structures were surveyed in preparation for them to be transferred into the ownership of the local authority. The total project costs is estimated at £1.9M, with £1M coming from Sustrans who will take ownership of the three major structures and the route.[4]
Work began in March 2010 with completion scheduled for 2011.[5] In July 2010, the council transferred the care of the Devonshire and Combe Down tunnels to Sustrans.[4] Development plans include the installation of artistic lighting and CCTV within the tunnels.[6]
The fourth and final £100,000 tranche of Council funding is due in financial year 2011/12 when the tunnel will have a cycle-friendly surface, mobile phone coverage and lighting related to motion detectors. Bat-friendly LED technology is being considered as an alternative to high-pressure sodium lamps.