Councillors and local representatives posed for a photo op on Friday (April 26) to mark the completion of the first part of the Kenilworth to Leamington (K2L) cycle route.

Section 1a of the 5km link is now complete, after work on the section began in January 2023.

Warwickshire County Council (WCC) has recently released a video to tell motorists how to use part of the new cycle route.

Work over the last year has included:

• Pedestrian and cyclist crossing refuge on Clarendon Avenue.
• Signed on-road cycle route along Beauchamp Road and Binswood Avenue. 
• Segregated cycle track along the eastern side of A452 Kenilworth Road.
• Upgrade of pedestrian crossings to combined pedestrian and cycle crossings.
• Continuous footway/ cycle track crossing at Woodcote Road east.
• Priority crossing for pedestrians and cyclists across Cloister Crofts.
• Crossing refuge between Cloister Crofts and Northumberland Road.
• Extension of parking restrictions (double yellow lines) on both sides of Kenilworth Road.

The new crossing refuge at Clarendon Avenue and priority crossing at Cloister Crofts were completed in Spring 2024.

Cllr Jan Matecki, portfolio holder for transport and planning, said: "It's exciting to see that this route is now open for use and to recognise the benefits it offers for active travel, in providing more space and greater priority for walking, wheeling and cycling, improving safety at crossing points on busy roads and reducing pavement parking. 

"However, we are aware that this is just one part of our countywide plans for active travel infrastructure and the first section of the longer K2L project. Next stages will be the extension of the K2L route along the A452 to Blackdown and Bericote.

"Alongside further works, we will continue to review Section 1a and we welcome any and all feedback from residents and visitors about the new facilities."

Section 1a of the K2L cycleway is now complete (image via WCC)

Robin Mathew, programme development officer from the business support programmes team at Coventry City Council, said: "It is great to see the completion of this important scheme which will improve Warwickshire's cycling infrastructure, ensuring cycling is a viable and attractive choice of travel.

"The project will build on existing investment to advance cycling connectivity and modal shift across the county."

While the local authority has celebrated the completion of the first section, no end date for the whole route into Kenilworth has been confirmed yet.

WCC approved the near £5 million budget for the K2L scheme in 2020 before giving full approval for the 5km cycleway in January 2021.

But the project - which will also see a new pedestrian and cycle bridge built over the River Avon near Chesford Grange - has been hit by continued delays, and still looks years away from completion.