Construction begins on four-mile cycling and walking route in UK

Published: 10-Mar-2010

Construction work has begun on a GBP1.9 million ($2.8 million) scheme, to create a new four-mile cycling and walking route through old railway tunnels to the south of Bath in UK.

The Two Tunnels route is being built by Sustrans working in partnership with Bath and North East Somerset Council. Excavators have moved in at the disused Devonshire Tunnel at Bear Flat to signal the beginning of the project, which has been four years in the making. The scheme would also open up the Combe Down Tunnel to create the Two Tunnels route between Midford and Bath. The path follows the line of an old railway route, which closed 44 years ago and would also renovate the disused Tucking Mill viaduct near Midford.

It is due to open by the end of 2011 and is one of a number of Sustrans schemes across the UK, being funded by a GBP50 million ($75 million) grant from the Big Lottery Fund. The fund will contribute GBP1 million ($1.5 million) while the council will be contributing GBP400,000 ($598240) to the scheme, with the rest of the money coming from fundraising efforts such as the King Bladud's Pigs Project.

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