Schemes

The River Itchen runs through the city of Southampton, part of it is occupied by shipyards, while further upstream the river runs through peaceful parkland and green open spaces, which breathe life into the city.   
This scheme will complete National Route 23 through Southampton, linking the airport, Swaythling, Riverside Park, St Denys, the city centre and the ferry terminal. It will connect local people to the river and the sea and provide a vital north-south connection through the city, enabling many local journeys to be made to shops, schools, workplaces and for leisure that previously, were not possible.   Schoolchildren and students will also gain from links they will be able to use from the main route to local schools, Universities and Southampton Common.
In St. Denys, a new raised walkway at Horseshoe Bridge will be created with support from Network Rail.  This unique structure will be built on top of a wave wall, which was installed in 2006, to protect the railway line from scouring by the tidal river.  The route will also link Riverside Park with Southampton Football Ground and the city centre.  At high tide, the water will gently lap near to the walkway edge, giving pedestrians and cyclists the chance to enjoy a peaceful, scenic route with stunning views over the Estuary.
Construction on the new River Itchen walkway started in April 2010, with works due to complete in September 2010.

LATEST NEWS IN BRIEF:
04.11.2008
Sustrans and its Connect2 partners at Southampton City Council signed the paperwork that will guide the development of the Connect2 scheme.
08.07.2010  On Friday 9th July at 2pm, the newly finished boardwalk along the River Itchen will be officially opened with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting at the Horseshoe Bridge.  This new riverside boardwalk goes along the tidal River Itchen from just south of the Horseshoe Bridge by the railway line, along the riverside to the Mount Pleasant Industrial Estate. 

Work began in April on this new pathway for pedestrians and cyclists which will provide a key link from St Denys into the city centre. This link is the main section of a new scheme for Southampton from Sustrans – who have worked closely with Southampton City Council to provide safer and more accessible routes within the city so that local people can do more everyday journeys by foot or by bike.  As well as the riverside boardwalk, there will be further works throughout the city of Southampton which will link the riverside route to the city centre.  The entire scheme will officially open in September but the boardwalk is complete and can be used by the public.

Visit the Southampton City Council Connect2 webpages for more

Click here to download the July 2010 project factsheet.

The new Boardwalk opens on 22nd September, click here for your invitation

How will the local community benefit?

A selection of comments received from the pledges:

"I used to work near here and this would have made a huge diference, I hope it comes to fruition"

“Great to see one connection progressing - still too many cycle routes that do not connect up or have poor access at the ends.” 

"Very worthwhile, bypassing the industrial estate roads with the lines of roadside parking , large delivery lorries and speeding traffic."