Tarmac take the Chisholm Trail

Company appointed to deliver phase one of major new cross-city walking and cycling routes in Cambridge

TARMAC are set to start work on a major project in Cambridge to create new walking and cycling connections for the historic city.

The company has been appointed to deliver the first phase of a sustainable cross-city transport scheme, the new Abbey Chesterton Bridge and Chisholm Trail, to allow cyclists and pedestrians to travel mostly off-road across Cambridge.

The trail and bridge, funded by the Greater Cambridge Partnership and Cambridgeshire County Council, respectively, will improve walking and cycling connections to important employment hubs, including the Cambridge Science Park and Cambridge Biomedical Campus.

Andy Brown, director of Tarmac’s Infrastructure business, said: ‘This important new route will support sustainable travel across the beautiful and historic city of Cambridge.

‘We’re delighted to be working with the Greater Cambridge Partnership to deliver the first phase of this significant infrastructure scheme and unlock its benefits for local people.’

Construction work on the Abbey Chesterton Bridge is due to start this month. The north-to-south Chisholm Trail, which closely follows the existing railway line, will be built in phases and is expected to be completed by 2020.

Councillor Ian Bates, transport portfolio holder for the Greater Cambridge Partnership and chair of Cambridgeshire County Council’s Economy and Environment Committee, said: ‘I am delighted that we have appointed Tarmac to deliver this visionary plan for a cross-city cycleway that has long been championed by the community.

‘The Chisholm Trail will provide people with a safer and more attractive way to discover our city’s beautiful green spaces and it will also make it easier for people to access places of employment, education, our historic city centre and the main railway stations.’

Phase one of the trail will focus on the northern part of the route and will open up green spaces across the city, helping to provide almost entirely off-road local walking and cycling routes.

The trail was first proposed by local cycling campaigner Jim Chisholm and his colleagues in the late 1990s.