Latest section of E4 walking and cycling route opens in Exeter

The latest section of one of Devon County Council’s main cross-city walking and cycling routes has been completed.

The stretch of the E4 route from Pinhoe Road to Exhibition Way is now open, connecting it to the first phase of the route on Cumberland Way and onto Redhayes Bridge over the M5 to connect with the east of Exeter.

These most recent improvements have widened existing shared paths along Pinhoe Road and include priority crossings. A two-way cycle route, with a ‘buffer’ zone segregating cyclists from the road, has also been developed along part of Exhibition Way, and the cycle and pedestrian crossing across Pinhoe Road has been improved.

Work on the scheme continued throughout lockdown with staff on site working to social distancing guidelines.

This latest section will eventually link to the pedestrian and cycle bridge across Summer Lane, which is expected to be in place later this year. Once this bridge is in place it will establish two miles of the multi-use E4 route between Redhayes Bridge and Beacon Lane.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Highway Management, said: “This is one of the flagship routes on our strategic walking and cycling network, so it’s good news to see excellent progress being made with the completion of this latest section. The County Council is taking a proactive approach to encourage more people to take up cycling and walking and this safe and convenient route helps make that possible. We’re continuing the momentum through the development of other sections of the route and we should see it seamlessly join with the next phase later in the year.”

Councillor Hilary Ackland, County Councillor for Pinhoe and Mincinglake, said: “During that last three years I have been actively involved in, and enthusiastic about, the development of the E4 cycling route that is in my division. I am confident that this facility is appreciated by residents. Exeter is fast becoming one of the best cities in England for walking and cycling and the E4 route is a central part of this environmentally friendly initiative.”

Among the first people to use the new route was Exeter commuter Abi Clark. She said: “I only started cycling last spring, and only when the weather was nice, so once or twice a week and then walking the rest of the time. This will make a huge difference. I can get pretty much the whole way from home to work traffic-free now, which will make me much more inclined to cycle. It definitely makes it a much more appealing option than it was previously.”

When completed, the E4 cycle route will provide a high quality link, connecting the developments in the east of Exeter to the city centre and the University of Exeter’s Streatham Campus.

For more information go to www.devon.gov.uk/e4