City of Wolverhampton Council has completed a £600,000 scheme to create a safer walking and cycling route for students between the city’s transport Interchange and the University of Wolverhampton’s new Springfield Campus.

The project was financed from the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership’s Access to Growth fund.

The streets around what is the former Springfield Brewery site had poor pedestrian and cyclist provision and suffered from traffic passing between Cannock Road and Wednesfield Road, often at inappropriate speeds.

The improvement works provide better and safer surroundings for students at the newly-opened West Midlands University Technical College (UTC) on the Springfield Campus.

Councillor John Reynolds, Cabinet Member for City Economy, said: “It is wonderful to see this historic site, which has been vacant for over a quarter of a century, being brought back to life by the university.

“I am delighted the council has been able to support its rejuvenation by delivering much improved and safer public realm around the campus.

“The opening of the UTC has seen hundreds of students using the site – some as young as 14 years old - making daily trips to and from it and it is essential we ensure the routes between the new Springfield Campus and the city centre are made fit for purpose.

“This is even more the case with an Elite Centre for Manufacturing Skills (ECMS) also planned for the new campus, as well as the university’s School of Architecture and Built Environment set to relocate there.”

The scheme has been designed to reduce traffic speed in the area, deter through traffic, remove on street parking and make high-quality provision for pedestrians and cyclists.

It includes:

• A dedicated shared use footway/cycleway in Culwell Street, Grimstone Street and Cambridge Street
• Motor traffic reduced to one-way travel along Grimstone Street
• Closure to motor traffic off Cambridge Street between Grimstone Street and Water Street, and creation of a public space
• Reduction of the speed limit to 20 mph and installation of speed reduction measures in Grimstone Street, Cambridge Street and Water Street in keeping with the adjacent existing 20 mph zone

The scheme is part of a wider set of initiatives that will help improve the quality and connectivity of walking and cycling routes within the city centre.

Professor Geoff Layer, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Wolverhampton, said: "We are really pleased that the improvement works are now complete and students and other visitors to our Springfield Campus have a safer way to travel from the city centre.

“The Springfield Campus is a major part of our £250 million Our Vision, Your Opportunity investment plan, which aims to drive economic regeneration in the region and improve the student experience. The £100m Springfield super-campus will be a centre of excellence for the built environment, providing education for school age children, undergraduates, postgraduates and professionals. It will play a significant role in bringing investment into the city and the wider region, creating employment opportunities, raising skills levels and aspirations, as well as acting as a catalyst for social and economic regeneration across the area."

Issued by the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Corporate Communications Team. For more information, please call 01902 555439.