Petersfield to Queen Elizabeth Country Park Cycle Route

Project description

Provision of a cycle route linking Petersfield with the Queen Elizabeth Country Park and the existing cycle facility linking the Country Park to Clanfield and Horndean. The Petersfield to Queen Elizabeth Country Park pedestrian and cycle route has been built in five sections, by a number of different partners.

Section 1: The Causeway - Hampshire County Council

Section 2: A3 Slip road and Old A3 - Highways Agency

Section 3: Forest Track - Forestry Commission

Section 4: Adjacent to A3 Southbound - Highways Agency

Section 5: Queen Elizabeth Country Park Key features of the route include;

• Widening the existing path along The Causeway
• Using the old A3 and forest tracks where possible with a new surfaced path
• Providing a new path alongside the A3 and into the Country Park
• Boardwalk to connect the pedestrian and cycle route to the main hub of the country park and visitor centre.

Project output

The cycle route links the towns of Petersfield, Horndean and Clanfield whilst linking with the Queen Elizabeth Country Park (QECP), a thriving visitor attraction in the heart of the South Downs National Park. The provision of the cycle route acts as a safer option for cyclist who now avoid using the previous cycle route along the busy A3 from the QECP into Petersfield. This provides a safe link between these residential areas to employment and retail opportunities in Petersfield by sustainable mode. This new cycle route encourages mode shift and link three towns. Hence strengthen the attractiveness of this local area by contributing to improving the visitor economy in the South Downs. This mode shift helps reduce carbon emissions and therefore improve air quality, health and quality of life. The package enables sustainable transport choices for residents, workers and shoppers within and around the area. The measures improve the safety of the cyclist and pedestrians. This improves walking and cycling connectivity to the existing network, and seeks to reduce traffic congestion by taking car commuter trips off the network for short length trips.