Transport bosses say town centre roads are nearing completion
News / Fri 21st Nov 2025 at 09:28am
HARLOW & Gilston Garden Town’s (HGGT) council partners are counting down to the completion of the Sustainable Transport Corridor works between Harlow Town Centre and Harlow Town railway station.
Having begun construction in February 2024, the majority of the works will be completed by the end of this year, with the infrastructure supporting HGGT’s commitment to enabling more active and sustainable journeys, giving residents and visitors more options to travel on bike, bus and foot locally.
Running from a redesigned junction at Burnt Mill roundabout along Fifth Avenue-Zelenskyy Avenue to the Town Centre, the corridor will provide new bus lanes in both directions alongside walking and cycling links, public realm, trees, signage and lighting.
Fully funded as part of a Housing Investment Grant from Homes England via Hertfordshire County Council, this phase of the Sustainable Corridor Network is one of a number of infrastructure projects being delivered in advance of new homes within the Garden Town, which are planned for construction in the coming years.
Speaking about the new transport routes, Harlow Council’s Portfolio Holder for Planning and the Garden Town, Cllr Alastair Gunn, commented: “People who travel around Harlow by bus or enjoy cycling and walking regularly are going to see a massive improvement and the approach into the Town Centre is going to be a lot better.
“Wider cycle lanes and better lighting on the Sustainable Transport Corridor will make it a much better travelling experience for people, and places Harlow as a welcoming town that’s attractive to visit and live in.
“We obviously have the regeneration of the Town Centre taking place as well so, in the very near future, residents will see that Harlow has not only transformed but is viewed as a go-to-destination for the region.
“That’s the aim and this infrastructure helps us deliver that aspiration.”
With this section of the Sustainable Transport Corridor infrastructure being delivered by Essex County Council, their Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Communities and Economic Growth, Cllr Louise McKinlay, says the works are part of much wider investment into Harlow and the wider Garden Town geography.
“Along with partners, we have identified a £1.3 billion infrastructure investment across the Harlow & Gilston area and these works, from the Town Centre to the Burnt Mill roundabout, will give people more choice as to how they want to travel locally, whether that is by bus, cycling or walking.
“The town is really going places and its location between London and Cambridge makes it highly investable.
“We know there has been some disruption during these works and we thank everyone for their patience.
“But having the right infrastructure in place improves connectivity and encourages economic growth, providing long-term benefits for Harlow.”
Cllr Paul Zukowskyj, Executive Member for Transport, Growth and Environment at Hertfordshire County Council, added: “This is exactly the kind of forward-thinking infrastructure we need to see as our region grows.
“By working together across county boundaries, we’re helping to create safer, greener and more sustainable ways for people to travel.
“These improvements will make it easier for residents to choose walking, cycling and public transport, supporting cleaner air, healthier lives and vibrant communities across Harlow and the wider Garden Town area.”
Tony
2025-11-21 16:56:50
And the cyclists will still ride in the road once this is complete. What a total waste of money! I mean, who agreed to this Joke!
Lisa clanford
2025-11-21 17:27:36
What a load of waffle, it’s been an absolute nightmare for nearly 2 years and looks like it’s no where near finished, not sure how it benefits anyone living the opposite end of the town, and station. To me a car user, there is less road for cars and more for a buses, to which the bus services has been cut, and as for the regeneration of the town, I will believe it when I see it, a little too late I think. It’s like the third world up there and not very appealing to shop at anymore. It’s bad enough having to just walk through it looking like a ghost town, looking over your shoulder as I walk thought it with all the unsavoury characters, it’s like the bronx’s. I don’t think there’s any coming back from what the town use to be like, as it’s been left way too long.
David Trew
2025-11-21 17:55:33
They need to get off there mobiles and crack on with it. One man in a digger and 4 blokes watching on. Should be done by 2027.
Deb B
2025-11-21 17:58:34
what on earth is going on by the Sainsbury's roundabout. It's really dangerous, there's no proper pedestrian crossing and you have to step out into the flow of traffic to cross the road with no proper protection. Absolute shambles, and it's ridiculous how long it is taking. as far as I know there's still no access to the underpass if you're walking up from the train station, really badly planned, or not planned at all. the pedestrian and cycle access has been closed off for weeks and no work seems to be happening on that stretch.
Shaz
2025-11-21 18:20:47
I thought this must be the case as I could see the traffic light heads being installed at junctions and that the majority of the roadworks look substantially complete. Probably not the best idea to complete the surfacing in these temperatures but for such a large project, they'll only miss the Autumn completion date by a small amount. I hope it all works well with improved bus services and more people will use sustainable services. We can only wait and see. I for one can't wait to see the back of all the traffic management, so yeh!!!
Mick H
2025-11-21 19:02:23
Are the contractors having to pay harlow council for late completion of this project, it was supposed to be finished as the signs say in the autumn but now it's the end of the year which is winter, there must be a late completion clause in the contract.
Shaz
2025-11-21 19:12:22
@Mick H - we don't know what may have caused the delay, could be utility companies being late or additional works, etc or the type of contract they are on.
Scott Warwick.
2025-11-21 19:37:04
It is all a con to prolong the work,so as to rinse as much as they can,out of the tax payer,at all levels,out of this 'Project'. There is never any work being done,you cannot even get in,or out of the town,it is a complete waste of time because no one will use those cycle lanes...all that for nothing.What bright eyed planner allowed that estate to be built on the old cricket pitch ? Even an untrained person could have told you it would add traffic mayhem there,and then they go and make a mess of the rest of the surrounding roads.It is all meant to make normal peoples lives difficult,it must be,because that is all it does,and all for nothing. Some 'Planners'. The town centre,they put some table tennis tables there........they must be,in some way,Joking ? Harlow used to be ok,now it is little more than dysfunctional.
David
2025-11-22 08:24:24
#David Trew It's their
Nigel
2025-11-22 10:23:07
Has April 1st come early????
Al gafar
2025-11-22 13:03:41
I can't see any benefits to.people who HAVE to.use their cars ,I expect it's because a lot.of them have difficulty with.mobility . It's all Very well to.improve things for the woke cyclists and those who can walk. What about the disabled.,I guess this woke scheme.is at the behest of the 20 to 40 age group who are very mobile "at the moment" See what happens when they get mobility issues ! I look are this "improvement" every day and I can't see any benefits to the majority of people using cars vans ,or the lifeblood of the nation lorries of all sizes ,doesn't seem to be much thought gone.into that scenario. I look at the weather today if you are elderly or frail you will not be walking or cycling ,I just wonder what university grad came.up.eith this idea ,probably a cyclist from one of the top universities. What a waste of talent ,the fluffy world through rose coloured glasses. Get.in the real world and see what it's like instead of being institutioniesed for three ,four or five years .
Shaz
2025-11-24 07:50:36
@Al Gafar, there is a national aim to move towards more sustainable transport and less reliance on our cars. If we can improve the infrastructure and encourage more mobile people onto buses, cycles, trains, etc then there will be less traffic on the roads (and fitter people) and those people with mobility issues who have to use cars will be better off in terms of road space and free flowing traffic. Its not about Gen Z, its about all of us changing our mindset from car reliance and looking at the alternatives.
Traffic cone
2025-11-24 12:02:30
Not sure why they had to dig all the roads up to build a cycle track and why they would take 2 years - installing extra sets of traffic lights by a roundabout seems ludicrous especially in an area that used to have an underpass. When anyone asks what they are actually doing they just seem to mutter sustainable transport corridor - is there more to that than bus kane and cycle track? Money would be better spent resurfaces the existing cycle tracks and roads.
Ian T
2025-11-24 15:48:40
So it looks like the roads around the town centre will remain gridlocked for hours each day? Well done Essex CC.
Terry Mackay
2025-11-24 20:46:49
Has this council not yet realised the majority of people in this town drive and many of them have to so they can make a living.
Shaz
2025-11-27 13:09:21
Will we have to wait until the bus station is complete for the introduction of the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) system? Does everyone complaining not want to accept that once the infrastructure and connectivity is there for improved active travel I.e. better bus services, walking, cycling, train services, that more people will get out of their cars and use them. If the BRT connects to Epping Underground Station, that would help a lot; but just better connectivity to the rail stations and reduced pricing would lead to an increased uptake.
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