Disused rail tunnel gets green light to become Europe’s longest underground cycle lane

Great news!

If this is done I will definitely make a little detour from my usual routes to give it a go.

Given that the WAG have just finished part of the Heads of the Valleys road 3 years late and £110m (50%!) over budget I'll probably be using a mobility scooter by the time it's finished.

That looks encouraging

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Earlier this year, the Government announced that it would halt the destruction of former railway lines and bridges in the hope that they can be repurposed to get more people walking and cycling.

Despite being located deep in south Wales, the tunnel is actually owned and controlled by Highways England.

Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, has now said he will hand over control to Welsh ownership so that the cycle lane project can continue.

Mr Shapps said: “I would be happy to transfer it to a local group, the Welsh Government or the local council, with money for the purpose.”

I wonder if Grant had to smack together some heads at Highways England to stop them from sabotaging it

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Highways England has previously caused outrage by filling in Victorian railway bridges with concrete rather than repairing and maintaining them.

In the summer, a 159-year-old bridge in Great Musgrave, Cumbria, had its arch filled with concrete, angering engineers and restoration experts, who said it could have been saved with just £5,000 of repairs.

Here's a link to the Rhondda Tunnel Society: https://www.rhonddatunnelsociety.co.uk/