A cyclist who was hospitalised after a crash on a “danger” Darlington cycle lane hopes plans to resurface the road it is on will make it safer for cyclists. 

Darlington Borough Council revealed work to repair part of the Woodland Road cycle scheme is due to start after parts of it were found “not to be of the required standard”. 

The surface, which was completed by a contractor appointed by the authority, will be relaid between Milbank Road and Greenbank Road. The existing road surface will be planed off and replaced with a new material while the white lines will be repainted. All works will be paid for by the contractor. 

Initial designs of the cycle lane released by the council showed the lane, which runs alongside the road, would be painted red, however the authority confirmed the images were only an artist’s impression. 

News of the changes was welcomed by Graham Webster, who called for better safety measures following a crash along the stretch of road in February, which left him unconscious. 

Read more: Man hospitalised after using Darlington's Woodland Road cycle lane

Recalling the incident, he said: “Whilst cycling south east along Woodland Road, just before the Hollyhurst Road junction and opposite St Teresa’s Hospice, I was the victim of an accident which caused me to fall from my bike and left me lying unconscious in the road. 

“The cause of the accident was my wheels catching the edge of the raised concrete kerb edge which separates the cycle lane and the road lane tarmac levels. There were no warning signs to highlight the change of surface height and the kerb looks like a flat painted line as you approach it dead ahead.”

The Northern Echo: Graham Webster, an experienced cyclist, warned others of dangers while using the cycle lane Graham Webster, an experienced cyclist, warned others of dangers while using the cycle lane (Image: The Northern Echo)

Mr Webster sustained injuries to his neck, shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip and knee and was rushed to A&E. He told how hospital staff had treated several other cyclists who had crashed on the same stretch of the cycle lane. 

Speaking after the crash, Mr Webster shared his concerns over the raised concrete kerb edges which separate the road and cycle lane, describing them as “an inherent danger from a cyclist’s perspective in an environment supposedly meant to protect them”. 

“As a highly experienced cyclist of some 40+ years and having cycled in all corners of the globe I have never encountered such a dangerous design of cycle lane,” he added.

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Now, he hopes the improvement works will make them more apparent to cyclists.

He added: “The kerb edge is hidden as a cyclist due to the position you ride on the road, which effectively means you are almost on top of the kerb edge which from this position is very difficult to spot. Either a different colour tarmac and or warning signs to me are the obvious improvement.”

Darlington Borough Council said the cycle lane was completed to national standards but minor works will be required to relay the road surface during the day and will start on Monday, July 17.

The surfacing and lining work will be carried out over six nights starting on Monday, July 31, and the road between Milbank Road and Greenbank Road will be closed from 7pm to 5am each night.

A council spokesperson said: “We recognise that the scheme caused inconvenience during the construction phase, but it is necessary for the contractors to return to put right the issues that have been identified.

"We are trying to minimise disruption by night time working but some works are required ahead of these night shifts and this has to be during the day."