TRANSPORT schemes to promote walking and cycling across Gwent have been given a funding boost from the Welsh Government.

Transport Minister Edwina Hart announced nearly £27 million yesterday awarded through three different schemes.

The Local Transport Fund of £15.7 million will benefit 35 public transport, road and active travel projects across Wales including £260,000 for a cycleway linking the existing Valleys Cycle Network at Cwm to the route at Aberbeeg.

Walking and cycling routes will be created with £218,000 to connect Lliswerry to the south of Newport city centre and £149,000 will be used for a Northern corridor active travel scheme connecting Malpas, Bettws and Brynglas.

In Monmouth, £90,000 has been awarded for safety improvements to the road and pedestrian walkways at the A40/A466 Wye bridge junction and £75,000 for a new pedestrian and cycle bridge across the river Usk connecting Abergavenny town centre with Llanfoist.

In Torfaen, the Pontnewydd link footpath will be improved with £198,000 to help access to employment and services.

A total of £3.95 million in Road Safety Capital grants will fund 31 schemes in Wales in a bid to reduce road casualties.

In Parc Bryn Bach, £22,000 will be used to upgrade an existing zebra crossing to a traffic signalled puffin crossing and in Newport, £33,280 will be spent on vehicle activated signs on A48 and Catsash Road in Langstone.

The £5.05 million Safe Routes in Communities grant will support 33 schemes to improve walking and cycling routes to schools and other community facilities in Wales.

In Monmouthshire, £25,000 will be used in St David’s Road in Abergavenny to upgrade an uncontrolled crossing point to a zebra crossing across from Ysgol Gymraeg Y Fenni.

Cantref Primary and Our Lady and St Michael’s Primary schools in Monmouthshire will see £42,000 used to provide additional pedestrian crossing arms at existing signals, new signal heads, link footways and the installation of new signal controller.

At George Street Primary School in Pontypool, £218,608 has been awarded for the provision of a new ramp to provide direct access from the school to the National Cycle Network route and in Abersychan, £250,000 will go towards to the 20mph zone, cycle shelters, traffic priority system and the construction of footpaths.

In addition, funding of nearly £2 million will be released for road safety education and training programmes for high risk and vulnerable groups, such as children, young people, older drivers and motorcyclists.

Newport East AM John Griffiths has welcomed the funding for Newport. He said: “This Welsh Government investment – including in my constituency at Lliswerry and Langstone – will support economic growth, improve safety and promote walking and cycling.”