The Mayor of London Boris Johnson has marked the start of work on London’s first segregated Cycle Superhighway after helping to dig out the first tarmac.
Building has started on the North-South route, which once complete will run from Elephant & Castle to King’s Cross. Work on the East-West route from Tower Hill to Westbourne Terrace will begin in April.
Two other segregated superhighways are also now under construction, the upgrade of Cycle Superhighway 2 from Aldgate to Bow and the new Cycle Superhighway 5 from Oval to Pimlico. All the routes will be open by spring next year with some sections of the routes open by autumn this year.
Mr Johnson, said: “This is a big day for cycling and for London, the culmination of years of campaigning by cyclists and months of planning by TfL.
“I know a lot of people thought this would never happen - and a small number of people didn’t want it to happen. But it is happening, and London will be better as a result.
“Getting more people on their bikes will reduce pressure on the road, bus and rail networks, cut pollution, and improve life for everyone, whether or not they cycle themselves.”
Leon Daniels, Transport for London’s managing director of surface transport, added: “A cyclist travels along the north-south corridor every two seconds in the peak, and the new protected route will provide a direct, safer journey for thousands of new and experienced cyclists travelling across the river from Southwark to King’s Cross, delivering on our commitment in the Mayor’s Vision for Cycling to radically improve conditions for cyclists in the capital. We will deliver this scheme as quickly as possible, while utilising the skills of our experienced traffic engineers to keep any impact on traffic to a minimum throughout.”
