The new lanes are at the intersection of Romford Road, Upton Lane and Woodgrange Road reports Nick Clark, Local Democracy Reporter

New cycle lanes in Forest Gate — Artist’s impression of how the cycle lanes will look at the crossroads of Romford Road, Woodgrange Road and Upton Lane in Forest Gate (Credit: Newham Council)

Work to build segregated cycle lanes at a major crossroads in Forest Gate has been approved by senior Newham Council staff.

The lanes, at the intersection of Romford Road, Upton Lane and Woodgrange Road will form the latest section of an east-west cycle route across the borough.

The council says the crossroads is a “top-priority road safety location” with Forest Gate residents calling the junction “difficult, unpleasant or unsafe”.

The stretch of cycle lanes will run east to west along each side of Romford Road on both sides of the junction.

They are part of a plan to build a cycle lane the full length of the road from Broadway in Stratford to the North Circular.

There will also be shorter stretches of cycle lane acting as on/off ramps onto the route from Woodgrange Road to the north and Upton Lane to the south.

Mini-zebra crossings will help pedestrians cross the cycle path on both sides of each corner of the crossroads.

Council officers say that a statutory consultation received no objections and eight expressions of support.

A council officers’ report says: “Respondents welcomed the proposed changes and highlighted the anticipated benefits for pedestrian safety, cycling provision, accessibility, environmental improvements and the overall public realm.

“Several respondents described the existing junction as difficult, unpleasant or unsafe to navigate, particularly for people walking and cycling, and considered the proposals a significant improvement to the current layout. ”

The council has already built four sections of the Romford Road cycle lane. These are between Vicarage Lane and Radett Close, between Upton Lane and Green Street, and between Fourth Avenue and the North Circular.

Work is also underway on the north side of Romford Road between Balmoral Road and Hampton Road in Forest Gate, and at the junction of Colchester Avenue and Little Ilford Lane in Manor Park.

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