Our work
We have made a number of recent improvements to active travel routes and infrastructure across Newport thanks to grants from the Welsh Government.
Newport station active travel bridge
In April 2023, the council opened a new active travel bridge at Newport Station.
The bridge is a new accessible link over the main railway line between the city centre and Devon Place. It is a replacement for the old subway.
Spokesafe Newport
Spokesafe is Newport’s first dedicated bike storage unit.
The unit is open 24 hours a day, and provides cyclists with an accessible place to leave their bike right in the heart of the city centre.
The unit has been set up by Gap Wales, a Newport-based grassroots charity that supports refugees and asylum seekers, homeless or vulnerably housed people, and victims of human trafficking, and works to make Newport a better place for all.
Gap Wales already runs several successful projects in the city, including the Newport Refugee Bike project, a scheme that recycles bikes and donates them to people in need of transport.
Spokesafe was made possible thanks to funding from the Welsh Government, as part of the Burns Delivery Unit’s (BDU) work.
The BDU is working to implement the recommendations of the South East Wales Transport commission. The recommendations aim to provide alternatives to journeys on the M4 and encourage the use of public transport and active travel in the south east region.
Newport West active travel schemes
We carried out improvements at Coed Melyn, Gaer Fort and Tredegar Park to link communities to places of work and education, and to create access for wheelchair users, following feedback from users about the condition of the existing paths.
Funding was secured from Welsh Government to implement enhancements to create an active travel route which resulted in a wider, smoother path surface that benefits users of all abilities.
The construction of the new path surfaces also incorporated special measures to protect roots of nearby trees.
The low-level lighting installed on the path was designed with the environment in mind and to minimise effects on wildlife. Low level lighting is stipulated for areas with intrinsically dark landscapes, such as national parks.
Monkey Island active travel route
Identified through the Integrated Network Map consultation process, the Monkey Island project formed part of our Inner City Links active travel project.
The project saw construction of a ramp to connect the active travel route along the Southern Distributor Road to the Corporation Road entrance to Newport’s east riverside active travel route. This completes a rollable, crossing-free circular route that follows both banks of the River Usk in the city centre.
The routes link commercial and residential destinations south of the Southern Distributor Road, and forms the foundational components of a wider active travel plan to improve connectivity between Nash Road and Corporation Road, as well as to the Newport International Sports Village.
These routes connect with existing active travel schemes and national cycle network routes that lead into the north and west of the city, connecting them with major employment sites and transport hubs.
Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal path
With the resurfacing of the Newport to Cwmbran stretch of the Monmouthshire and Brecon canal path completed in 2022, the entire length of canal path within Newport’s boundary has now been renovated to allow for easier active travel trips.
The Monmouthshire and Brecon canal path offers a rollable, traffic-free route from Barrack Hill in Newport to the neighbouring counties of Caerphilly and Torfaen.
New barriers have also been installed along the entrances to the towpaths which allow easier access for wheelchair users. The previous path was uneven, and feedback from walkers and cyclists had indicated that it was difficult to use, particularly in winter months.
Funding was secured from Welsh Government to implement enhancements to create an active travel route which resulted in a wider, smoother path surface that benefits users of all abilities.