Work is due to begin on a scheme to transform one of the most important gateways into Leicester city centre.

A major project will involve replacing the underpass between the top of Granby Street and the station with a ground-level 10-metre wide crossing for pedestrians and cyclists.

The scheme will also involve alterations and landscaping in the surrounding area, as well as building a network of new cycle lanes.

The Government's New Growth Point (NGP) funding is financing the £1.65m project.

Preliminary work is due to start on May 24, involving junction improvements at East Street, and alterations to the central reservation on the nearby stretch of the central ring road in the following weeks.

During the summer, the existing underpass will be filled in, and a new pavement and pedestrianised area created at the top of Granby Street.

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The underpass will be replaced by the super-crossing, allowing pedestrians, disabled users and cyclists to cross the ring road safely. Construction work on the super-crossing is due to take place during the autumn period, and will include landscaping and tree planting works.

Final phases of the work will involve minor traffic island alterations, and work to alter the junction of Campbell Street with the ring road. New cycle lanes will also be installed on the ring road between Waterloo Way and Charles Street.

The super-crossing works are scheduled to be completed by early December 2010 in time for the busy Christmas period; remaining works are scheduled to be completed between January and March 2011.

Following construction of the super crossing, the central ring road will be closed to enable safe removal of the traffic signal gantries. Also to carry out the final surfacing works, the inbound and outbound carriageways of the central ring road will be closed for short periods respectively.

Leicester City Council's cabinet member for regeneration and transport, Councillor Abdul Osman, said: "This scheme will create a much more welcoming gateway into the city than the current underpass.

"We have consulted with local businesses and have kept them informed of the proposed changes. A number of new parking bays and loading bays have been included in Granby Street and East Street.

"We are confident that once completed, this will be a major improvement, which will also complement the proposed new multi-million pound business quarter in the area around the station."

(CD)