Families braved wet weather to celebrate the completion of North Tyneside's £11 million Seafront Sustainable Route, a five-mile walking, wheeling and cycling link between Tynemouth and Whitley Bay.
The flagship scheme has transformed the borough’s coastal stretch, creating safer, greener ways to travel and enjoy the area.
On Sunday, volunteers gathered on Longsands beach to help create a spectacular sand mural with Soul2Sand, capturing landmarks at either end of the route and the many ways people will use it.
On Monday, festivities moved to The Links near Spanish City, where heavy showers gave way to bursts of sunshine, bringing a carnival atmosphere with BMX stunt shows, adapted cycle sessions, multi-person mega bikes and more, while families tucked into 200 free ice creams provided by local business Lido di Meo.
Delivered by North Tyneside Council with support from Active Travel England and Sustrans, and built by Capita, the project represents one of the most ambitious active travel investments North Tyneside has seen.
Stretching from Tynemouth Front Street to St Mary’s Lighthouse, the route includes a new two-way cycleway, upgraded footpaths, additional crossings, and a 20mph speed limit to improve safety and accessibility for all.
Councillor Sandra Graham, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Climate Change and the council’s cycling champion, said: "This project started life as a pop-up cycle lane, which we trialled during the pandemic to give people more space to get out and about safely.
“It proved to be very popular, but it also highlighted where improvements needed to be made, and we promised to come back with something permanent that would work for everyone.
“With great support from Active Travel England, Sustrans and Capita - who built the route - we’ve created a scheme that makes our beautiful seafront even safer, greener, and more accessible.
“If you live locally or come to visit, you’ll see people of all ages enjoying it – families, friends, and individuals making the most of the space. It’s fantastic to see it being so well used already, and I’m sure it will inspire even more people to choose active travel when they visit the coast.”
Carole Patrick, National Cycle Network Director at Sustrans, said, “We are delighted to have been part of this ambitious project which is offering North Tyneside residents and visitors alike greater opportunities to walk, wheel and cycle. Healthier, more sustainable travel brings many benefits, including boosting the local economy and supporting the health and wellbeing of communities."
Key features include:
- 6,219 metres of resurfaced footpaths
- 4,675 metres of new cycleway
- 2,300 square metres of resurfaced road
- 72 new cycle stands
- 16 new zebra crossings
- 3 new parallel crossings
- 2 bus stop build-outs for safer boarding
- 1 upgraded toucan crossing
For more information on the Seafront Sustainable Route and project details, click here: Seafront Sustainable Route.