Harlow First Avenue Cycling and Walking Improvements
Summary
We are proposing to make crossing improvements at three junctions along the First Avenue corridor in Harlow through our Harlow First Avenue Cycling and Walking Improvements scheme.
It is the first phase of a new east to west walking and cycling route.
The route, referred to as Harlow LCWIP (Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan) 4, aims to improve pedestrian and cycle connections linking the east of Harlow with Harlow town centre. Further improvements to the route will be dependent on future funding.
Together with the Harlow Sustainable Transport Corridor schemes and the recently completed Harlow LCWIP 9 scheme, the Harlow First Avenue Cycling and Walking Improvements scheme will help improve connections for both existing and new communities as part of the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town.
It will also provide safer and improved crossing points for people along the First Avenue corridor, including pupils and families walking and cycling to and from local schools.
The projects are all part of our ambition to create a safer, greener and healthier Essex by giving you more choice in how you travel, both for shorter journeys or as part of a longer trip.
The initial proposed improvements are:
- A new raised table crossing at the Park Lane Junction with First Avenue Mandela Avenue
- A new toucan crossing on the northern arm of the Howard Way Roundabout near the junction with First Avenue
- A new parallel crossing over Momples Road at the junction with First Avenue
Map showing locations of proposed new crossings
These elements were selected following feedback received during initial community engagement in 2023, which highlighted the difficulties people currently experience crossing roads along the route, particularly at the Howard Way and Momples Road junctions.
Having developed designs for the crossing improvements, we are now asking for your feedback on our Harlow First Avenue Cycling and Walking Improvements scheme as part of a public consultation.
The consultation opened on Monday 9 June 2025 and will run for four weeks, closing on Sunday 6 July 2025. Please have your say by completing our short consultation survey.
More information about the proposed crossings, the wider route and the public consultation can be found in the sections below.
What is currently proposed?
We are initially proposing to make crossing improvements at three junctions along the First Avenue corridor – the Park Lane junction, Howard Way Roundabout and the Momples Road junction.
The Harlow First Avenue Cycling and Walking Improvements scheme brings forward walking and cycling improvements which are proposed as part of the Harlow East to West Sustainable Transport Corridor, as well as part of the new Harlow LCWIP 4 walking and cycling route.
Park Lane junction
Current crossing arrangement on Park Lane
The Park Lane junction with First Avenue Mandela Avenue is currently a mini roundabout junction with an uncontrolled segregated cycleway/footway crossing over Park Lane.
We are proposing to improve the junction by creating a new raised table to provide cyclists/pedestrians with priority when crossing to improve safety.
Raised tables are sections which bring the road up to the height of the footway, making it easier for pedestrians and cyclists to cross and helping to slow vehicles and make it clear to drivers not to expect priority over other users.
The existing footways will be widened on the approaches to the crossing and they will be extended to the crossing point, which will be set slightly further away from the mouth of the junction.
The scheme will also include resurfacing of the carriageway at the junction, lighting upgrades and new markings and signs.
The proposed new arrangement can be seen in the drawing below.
Proposed crossing at the Park Lane Junction
Howard Way Roundabout
Current crossing arrangement on Howard Way Roundabout
The Howard Way Roundabout is a four arm, two-lane roundabout connecting Howard Way and First Avenue.
During our community engagement in 2023, you told us that it is currently particularly difficult to cross at the roundabout.
As part of our scheme, we are proposing a new toucan crossing across the northern arm of the roundabout. This will replace the existing uncontrolled crossing, which currently requires people to cross in two phases (with an island in the middle) and across two busy traffic lanes.
Toucan crossings are a type of shared signalised crossing which can be used by both people walking or cycling.
The new crossing will make it easier for people who are walking and cycling to cross the road in this location, with traffic signals stopping traffic before allowing them to safely cross.
The signals for the toucan crossing would be on-demand and are not expected to have a significant impact on traffic.
The existing shared use paths on the either side of the roundabout/Howard Way will be extended further along Howard Way to the new crossing which will be approximately 20 metres from the junction.
The scheme will also include resurfacing of the carriageway on the northern arm of the roundabout, lighting upgrades and new markings and signs.
A design drawing for the new crossing can be seen below.
Proposed crossing at the Howard Way Roundabout
Momples Road Junction
Current crossing arrangement on Momples Road
The Momples Road junction with First Avenue is currently a T-junction, with an uncontrolled crossing across Momples Road.
This is another location where you told us it felt dangerous to cross during our earlier community engagement in 2023.
We are proposing to improve the crossing by introducing a new parallel crossing over Momples Road. A parallel crossing is a type of crossing that prioritises both pedestrians and cyclists. It is similar to a zebra crossing, but also includes a separately marked zone for people who are cycling.
The crossing will be set back approximately 5m from the junction.
A short 20m section of the existing footway on either side of Momples Road will be widened to create a shared footway/cycleway. After that point, the footway will continue south as it does currently and people who are cycling will be directed onto the carriageway.
The scheme will also include resurfacing of the carriageway at the junction, lighting upgrades and new markings and signs.
The proposed new arrangement can be seen in the drawing below.
Background
Harlow LCWIP (Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan) 4 is one of nine planned LCWIP routes in Harlow.
Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs) are network plans for walking and cycling which identify preferred routes for future development when funding is available.
The east to west route is around 4.5km and starts east of the Velizy Avenue Roundabout and finishes at Sheering Road, running along the First Avenue corridor. The route could potentially include various different types of walking and cycling paths, crossings and other features in the future.
The Harlow First Avenue Cycling and Walking Improvements (initial crossing improvements at key junctions along the First Avenue corridor) are being jointly funded by Active Travel England and Essex County Council.
We hope that we will be able to secure further funding to make additional improvements to the route in the future.
All nine proposed LCWIP routes can be seen in the map (below).
Public consultation
Although we undertook earlier community engagement about the whole Harlow LCWIP 4 route in autumn 2023, it was much higher level and focused on the current challenges you faced when walking and cycling in the area and asked for ideas on how the overall route could be improved. The engagement exercise did not include details about specific improvements or designs.
Therefore, having developed designs for this initial package of crossing improvements along First Avenue (Harlow First Avenue Cycling and Walking Improvements), we are now running a public consultation to get your feedback.
Feedback from the consultation will help us to refine and finalise our designs for the three crossings.
The consultation was launched on Monday 9 June 2025 and will run for four weeks, closing on Sunday 6 July 2025.
The best way to take part is by completing our short online survey.
Alternatively, you can send your feedback by email to: activetravel@essexhighways.org
Printed copies of the survey and/or information about the proposed Harlow First Avenue Crossing Improvements can be requested by emailing: activetravel@essexhighways.org
Printed surveys or other written feedback can be sent by freepost to the following address (no stamp is required but please note the address is case sensitive): FREEPOST ESSEX HIGHWAYS ENGAGEMENT TEAM
Contact us
If you have any questions or comments about the Harlow First Avenue Cycling and Walking Improvements Scheme, Harlow LCWIP 4 or our public consultation, please email us at: activetravel@essexhighways.org