Work has begun to upgrade the Hayling Billy Trail, on Hayling Island in Havant, with an all-weather surface, making it easier for walkers, cyclists, mobility scooter users and horse riders to use in all seasons throughout the year
The finished scheme will provide a 2.5 to 3 metre wide ‘all weather’ surface on a 1.3km northern part of the route, said Hampshire County Council.
The new surface is designed to last longer and provide more protection from erosion and storm damage.
While the work is underway, access to this section of the Trail will be limited with full closures in place on the section starting from the car park opposite the ‘Applegreen’ garage, southwards to the car park on the shore behind the ‘Esso’ garage.
The first closure will be in place between 8.30am on Friday 11 October until 6pm on Tuesday 15 October. This section of the route will then close again from Monday 21 October until February 2025 when the scheme is currently due to be completed. An area of the car park off Victoria Road will also be used to enable access by heavy vehicles and machinery, temporarily reducing the number of spaces available.
Southern sections of the Hayling Billy Trail will remain open and will be accessible via the footpath from West Lane or further south from Sinah Lane.
The Hayling Billy Trail is a re-purposed disused rail line which forms part of the long-distance Shipwrights Way from Farnham to Portsmouth and the National Cycle Network 2 (NCN2) (which will eventually link Dover to Cornwall along the south coast).
The £600,000 project has been funded through the Government’s Active Travel Fund.
PIC: HAMPSHIRE CC
