Questions and answers
How is the project being funded?
The Harlow First Avenue Cycling and Walking Improvements scheme is being jointly funded by Active Travel England and Essex County Council (ECC). ECC successfully secured Active Travel Fund (ATF) 4 funding for the development of the Harlow LCWIP Route 4 scheme in spring 2023.
The funding was specifically awarded for walking and cycling improvements in Harlow and cannot be used for any other purposes, such as repairing potholes.
Why are these three crossings being prioritised?
Our initial community engagement in autumn 2023 highlighted the difficulties people currently experience crossing roads along the First Avenue corridor in Harlow, particularly at the Howard Way and Momples Road junctions.
As a result, we have prioritised making improvements at three key junctions (Park Lane, Howard Way and Momples Road) as the first phase of the new Harlow LCWIP 4 route.
When will the further improvements be made to the Harlow LCWIP 4 route?
The funding currently available from Active Travel England will enable us to make improvements to three key crossings along the First Avenue corridor in Harlow.
We hope that we will be able to secure further funding to make additional improvements to the route in the future.
The timescales for further improvements will be dependent on when funding becomes available.
Will Harlow LCWIP 4 eventually be a fully segregated cycleway along the whole route?
While we strongly support providing segregated cycling facilities wherever possible and we fully appreciate the benefits, there are often areas where it is not possible because of a lack of space or a disproportionate impact on other transport users.
The Harlow LCWIP 4 route is around 4.5km and could potentially include various different types of walking and cycling paths, crossings and other features in the future, likely including a mixture of both segregated footways/cycleways and shared use paths.
Future improvements to the wider route have yet to be designed and would be subject to further community engagement and consultation.
What is a raised table?
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 convey to motorists not to expect priority over other users. They are typically used at junctions.
What is a parallel crossing?
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.
What is a toucan crossing?
Toucan crossings are a type of shared signalised crossing which can be used by both people walking or cycling.
What impact will the crossing improvements have on traffic?
Our proposals are not expected to have a significant impact on traffic and, crucially, will help improve journeys for people who are walking or cycling.
The traffic signals for the toucan crossing on the northern arm of the Howard Way Roundabout will be on-demand. They are not expected to have a significant impact on traffic.
What previous engagement have you carried out?
We initially engaged with the local community about our wider plans for Harlow LCWIP 4 in autumn 2023.
This engagement was high level and focused on the current challenges you face when walking and cycling in the area, as well as asking for your initial ideas for how the overall route could be improved.
The feedback you provided helped us to prioritise which improvements should be made first and informed our designs.
When will the scheme be constructed and how will you manage disruption?
Based on the current indicative programme, construction of the scheme is currently expected to start in winter 2025/26 and be completed in spring 2026.
Construction will be carefully managed to minimise the impact and disruption for local residents and businesses. More details will be established once a contractor is appointed to construct the scheme.