Plans to overhaul one of south east London's most dangerous roads have been announced today, paving the way for a major new cycleway between Greenwich and Woolwich.

Transport for London have announced alongside Greenwich Council that the Cycleway 4 is going to sped with the main work starting in early September on a segregated cycle and walking lane.

Part of the Streetspace for London plan, making it easier for cyclists and walkers to travel safely post Covid-19, TfL have decided to break plans for the cycleway forward, starting with temporary changes.

The first stage 'enabling' work begins this week, and will see an extension of just over a mile long, running along Old Woolwich Road and Trafalgar Road (the A206).

The plans will also see some changes to the layout of the Angerstein roundabout, an "intimidating" location which has seen two cyclists sadly killed in recent years.

The roundabout will be home to new, fully segregated cycleway through the simplified junction, with new signals to help people walking and cycling navigate the junction safely and easily.

Cycleway 4 will then be transformed into a 5km two-way segregated cycle route connecting the Tower Bridge to the Greenwich-side of the route to Woolwich.

Greenwich Council say this will make it easier for people to walk, cycle and use public transport, which is "vital to the capital's recovery from coronavirus."

The council contributed £500,000 from develop contributions, to secure the 'best design' for a two-way cycle track.

Cllr Sizwe James, the cabinet member for environment, sustainability and transport said: “We very much welcome this extension to Cycleway 4 in Greenwich. The area includes one of southeast London’s most dangerous junctions – cyclists have sadly died at the Angerstein roundabout – so this will provide an overdue safer cycling route into London."

“The S106 funding contribution from the council was earmarked for the permanent extension to Cycleway 4 but I’m pleased that it’s been brought forward to create the precedent for a permanent two-way cycle track on this busy and in-demand route.”

The eventual plan is for the cycleway to run from Woolwich to Tower Bridge, and subject to successful funding application from TfL, a temporary cycleway will continue along Creek Road through Greenwich town centre and College Approach leading into the Old Royal Naval College.

The second stage of the project will take the route from the Angerstein roundabout to Anchor and Hope Lane and 24/7 bus and cycle lanes will be created through to the Woolwich ferry roundabout to temporarily provide an improved cycling landscape from Charlton to Woolwich.

Heidi Alexander, Deputy Mayor of London for Transport, said: “I’m delighted that work to extend Cycleway 4 has been brought forward to help make it safer and easier for people to walk and cycle, especially at the Angerstein roundabout.

"Enabling more people to walk and cycle is more important than ever as our city recovers from coronavirus, so I’m pleased that temporary changes will be made while the work to create a fully segregated route is carried out.”

The three new strategic cycle routes Greenwich is developing in the borough as part of the Streetspace programme should connect to the Cycleway 4 extension, meaning even more residents should be encouraged to cycle around and through Royal Greenwich.