The scheme will see a return to two lanes of traffic and a focus on off-road cycling.
The scheme will see the footways on both sides of Freetown Way widened, between Witham and Blundell’s Corner, to accommodate safe, off-road cycle tracks, providing separate areas for both people cycling and for pedestrians.
The scheme will also include -
- the separation of left-turning traffic from people cycling straight ahead at junctions to improve safety
- additional pedestrian crossings along the route
- early start signals to support the safety of people cycling
- improved facilities for pedestrians and people cycling at junctions
- removal of cycle lanes, along the road, across North Bridge and replacement with an off-road cycle track
- removal of on-road cycle lanes at Blundell’s Corner
- new off-road cycle tracks around the Blundell’s Corner junction, fully separated from traffic and pedestrians
The scheme will also see the city’s first cycle optimised protected signals (CYCLOPS) junctions, which fully segregate people cycling from general traffic, installed at Blundell’s Corner and Witham, as well as Freetown Way’s junctions with Wright Street, Charles Street, Caroline Street/Worship Street and George Street.
The scheme is part-funded by an allocation from Active Travel England’s Active Travel Fund (ATF).
Freetown Way Scheme latest developments
Work started on the scheme in December 2025, with localised enabling works taking place at locations along the Freetown Way to divert various utilities, including electricity and fibreoptics.
Following the completion of these works in early 2026, the council appointed Balfour Beatty to prepare the site for delivery of the main scheme.
This included -
- the removal of the cycle wands on the carriageway
- surface water drainage surveys
- cross-carriageway ducting
- ground penetrating radar (GPR) surveys to identify utilities
- trial strips to check for utilities
With these works completed, the council has recently appointed Hull-based contractor PBS Construction Ltd to undertake the next phase, focussing on the section east of Blundell’s Corner up to, and including, the junction with Wright Street.
This will include -
- revisions to the junction and new signals at Wright Street to incorporate cycling facilities
- new off-carriageway cycle tracks and reconstruction of the footways
- carriageway alterations to accommodate two lanes of traffic
These works started on Monday 14 September 2026 and are anticipated to take around six months to complete.
Initially the focus will be on the excavation of the southern footway between Wright Street and Pryme Street to allow the new cycle track to be installed as well as reconstruction of the footway itself. The kerbline in this area is also being removed as part of widening works for the return of two lanes of traffic.
To minimise disruption to motorists and the travelling public, the council and its contractor are taking a phased approach, working on a specific section at a time.
The initial works in September and early October will be completed under localised traffic management, with narrow lanes in operation.
Motorists are advised not to overtake people cycling in the area being worked on and, due to the works on the footway, the southern footway of Freetown Way, from Pryme Street to Wright Street is closed.
No access is available onto Freetown Way from Pryme Street, and a short diversion is in place for pedestrians via Wright Street.
To maintain a safe space for pedestrians, the controlled pedestrian crossing of Freetown Way at Pryme Street is also closed, with a diversion via the controlled crossing at Charles Street in place.
This phase of works will take around two months and a new crossing facility at Pryme Street is set to open in early 2027.
Finally, while this phase is underway, the council is inviting contractors to bid for the remaining works in the scheme. This will enable swift progress, once this stage is complete.
