WORKS on a major road in Colchester city centre are set to start later this month as part of a green transport scheme despite previous controversy.
East Hill will undergo various changes as part of the overall University to the City Centre project which aims to improve walking and cycling in Colchester.
As part of the year-long East Hill works, there will be a new cycle lane along the hill, bus stop upgrades including new shelters, and raised kerbs for accessibility.
There is expected to be a new 20mph speed limit, parking space changes, and improvements made to the Guildford Road junction.
The plans for a new cycle lane were previously delayed from last year and have proved controversial as several parking spaces on East Hill near the junctions with Land Lane and Eaglegate West will be lost.
Councillor Amy Kirkby-Taylor said: “This is a difficult project because obviously in principle more cycle lanes are a good thing.
“I think this investment could have been put to better use in other parts of the city.
“Local residents are concerned about simple things such as how are disabled and elderly going to get access to the doctor’s surgery, the parking spaces are absolutely essential for that, and they are going to be going.
“I don’t think it has been thought through as it should have been, and there are going to be problems with this.
“Overall, the project is great, but again, this type of project would have been better somewhere like on St Andrews Avenue or Cowdray Avenue where different road users come into conflict.
“There are areas of the city which need this intervention, East Hill isn’t one of them.”
As part of the works, tourist coach spots will be relocated away from East Hill to ease congestion, new pavements added, raised footpath crossing at side roads, and the existing zebra crossing will be upgraded into a parallel crossing for pedestrians and cyclists as well.
A spokesperson for Essex County Council said: "Octavius Infrastructure has been appointed to deliver the East Hill works, which form part of a wider route connecting Colchester city centre with the University of Essex and the eastern side of the city.
“Enabling works are currently underway.
“We will be contacting residents and businesses in the coming days with details of a forthcoming ‘meet the contractor' event, providing an opportunity to learn more about the planned programme of work, and how any impacts will be managed.”
The East Hill works are expected to be finished in summer 2027.
No date has been confirmed yet for when construction works will start this month.
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