Period concrete on the cycle tracks of the Weeley bypass.
The Weely bypass, opened in July 1939 as part of the A133, was itself bypassed by the new A133 opened in 1995.
“Essex County Council has approved of suggestions made by the Ministry of Transport in regard to new by-pass road at Weeley [including the] provision of a 30ft carriageway, two cycle tracks and two footpaths,” reported a newspaper in March 1936, adding that the “revised scheme” was to “include cycle tracks 9 ft. wide.”
Another local paper said the idea for the “two cycle tracks, and two footpaths” was “suggested by the Ministry of Health.”
“The Council have agreed to the amended scheme being carried out, subject to a grant from the Ministry of Transport of 75 per cent,” recorded another newspaper.
In 1937, the Herts and Essex Observer reported that “provision is made for a road, about three-quarters of a mile in length, with a 30-foot carriageway, two cycle tracks 9ft. wide, and two footpaths 6ft. wide.”
The concrete cycle tracks are visible today — albeit narrower than the period width of 9-ft — but there’s no sign of any adjacent footways. They are either buried or were not included in the final build.
