Councillors and officers visited the site to officially mark the start of works being delivered as part of a £19.9 million investment from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund. 

The Holme Lacy Road scheme will bring significant benefits to residents, businesses, and commuters by improving safety, accessibility, and traffic flow along a key route into the city. 

Councillor Philip Price, Cabinet Member for Transport and Infrastructure, said: “These improvements will make a real difference to everyone who uses Holme Lacy Road, whether by car, bike or on foot.

“We’re delivering better surfaces, safer crossings and more space for walking and cycling, giving people the choice to travel in a way that best suits them.”

The scheme will upgrade the stretch of Holme Lacy Road from Oak Crescent to the Thorn Business Park junction, with a comprehensive set of improvements including:

• Resurfaced carriageways for a smoother and more reliable drive
• Safer pedestrian crossings to support walking and local access
• Raised tables and high friction surfacing to reduce vehicle speeds
• Dedicated cycle lanes and quiet zones for cyclists
• Widened shared spaces for cyclists and pedestrians
• A new signalised junction at Holme Lacy Road/Chestnut Drive/Hoarwithy Road to improve traffic management
• A shuttle system for vehicles at the railway bridge to ease congestion and give pedestrians and cyclists more space

Councillor Price said: “The scheme will enhance travel choices to Skylon Park, the Hereford Enterprise Zone and the wider Rotherwas area, a key location for employment and growth in the city.

“Holme Lacy Road will become the spinal route for cycling to the south of the river linking in with other routes to ensure movement is possible in all directions allowing safe passage from the residential zones to the employment zones and in towards the town.”

Work will be completed in phases to minimise disruption with the full scheme expected to be complete by next winter.