The “missing link” in Cycleway 4 has opened — finishing four and a half years of work to create a segregated cycle lane from Deptford Creek Bridge, just west of Greenwich town centre, to Tower Bridge.
Much of the showpiece Transport for London route had been in use since September 2022, but a short section around Surrey Quays station was built later as part of a Southwark Council project.
Videos posted on social media on Monday evening showed the section between Bestwood Street and the Rotherhithe Tunnel finally open — although there were warnings that it would take time for drivers to get used to the new arrangements.
Work on the route began in July 2019, with the first section, between Tower Bridge and the Rotherhithe Tunnel roundabout, opening in September 2020. But the pandemic and other delays meant the next two sections, through Deptford, did not open until July and September 2022.
One part, through the section of Deptford controlled by Greenwich Council, was finished but did not open for nearly a year because of a funding problem as the works were originally meant to be linked with repairs to Deptford Creek Bridge.
The finished route will provide a speedier alternative to Cycleway 10, formerly known as Quietway 1, where there have been reports of cyclists being mugged on a quiet stretch near South Bermondsey station and The Den.
Eventually, Transport for London hopes to extend the route to Woolwich and Plumstead. Progress in developing a route through Greenwich town centre has been slow, but a cycleway from the Old Royal Naval College to Charlton opened in 2020. Plans to run this on to the Woolwich Ferry were approved in October 2022, but with no date for works to start. A link to Plumstead is currently being consulted on.
Lewisham Cyclists is marking the completion of Cycleway 4 with a family-friendly ride from Cutty Sark Gardens, starting at noon on Sunday.