Work to improve active travel links between County Durham communities along the route of an historic railway is to begin this summer.
Durham County Council is to develop new walking and cycling routes along a 19-kilometre stretch of the former Stockton and Darlington Railway.
The council is investing more than £7million in the creation of the routes, from its allocation from the government’s Levelling Up Fund.
The new routes will be in place ahead of celebrations marking the 200th anniversary of the Stockton and Darlington line in 2025.
Cllr Elizabeth Scott, the council’s Cabinet member for economy and partnerships, said: “A lot of work has gone into developing this project since we were awarded the funding and I’m delighted that we will be in a position to start work in the months ahead.
“We hope that what we will be delivering will encourage more people to walk and cycle, with obvious benefits for their health. The routes can also help reduce reliance on cars, which can only benefit the environment.
“The paths will help connect communities along the route of the line, creating new active travel links to culture and heritage sites.
“This active travel project ties in with exciting developments at Locomotion to mark the bicentenary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway and we’re looking forward to these projects providing lasting legacies beyond the celebrations in 2025.”
The routes will involve the creation of walking and cycling paths between Witton Park and the council’s boundary with Darlington Borough, south of Newton Aycliffe.
They will take in the train stations of Shildon, Newton Aycliffe and Heighington; and the National Cycle Network as well as linking to Locomotion rail museum.
The council is also hoping the route will include Gaunless Bridge, the world’s first iron railway bridge, which was designed by ‘father of the railways’ George Stephenson. The authority recently secured funding from Historic England for restoration of the bridge’s abutments.
A mixture of tarmac paths and dust tracks will be created with Stockton and Darlington Railway-branded waymarker signs along the route.
The council has engaged with 40 landowners while planning the route of the tracks.
Work will begin in the summer and the aim is for it to be complete by March 2024.
The work is funded from the £20m the authority received for the Bishop Auckland parliamentary constituency in the first round of the Levelling Up Fund. This money is also contributing to work at Locomotion, including its New Hall development, which will create one of the world’s largest collections of historic railway vehicles.
The council will be running information sessions at settlements along the route prior to work starting. Information on these will be released in due course.