WORK to create a new cycle lane on one of the busiest road in Southampton is under way.

The dual carriageway on Bassett Avenue will be reduced to a single lane in both direction as one of the two lanes will temporarily be turned into a cycle lane.

Meanwhile the existing shared footways will be kept for pedestrians to support social distancing.

The news was confirmed by Southampton City Council as some of the measures the authority is set to take as the government prepares to loosen lockdown.

It is not yet know how long the temporary cycle lane on the Avenue will be in place.

The city council said: “As part of this, whilst traffic levels are low, we will implement temporary lane closures on Bassett Avenue and The Avenue to provide cyclists with their own on-road cycle lanes. We will reduce sections of The Avenue where it is dual carriageway to one lane, but the majority of The Avenue will have width restrictions in place to allow for on-road cycle lanes, while maintaining one lane in and outbound for vehicles.”

The local authority confirmed that work from Chilworth Roundabout to the Cowherds Pub started on May 27 and will last for three nights,

It will be undertaken between 8pm and 6am and two-way temporary signals will be in place. The news comes as last month official figures revealed that air pollution in the city dropped significantly since the start of the lockdown.

The city council also claims that the number people cycling in the city has increased.