'Iconic' Molineux subway to stay as new plans unveiled
The Molineux subway which scores of Wolves fans use to access the stadium will stay, as new plans for a ring road crossing were revealed.
Bosses in Wolverhampton say the subway will remain as they push forward with plans to develop a new £110,000 route for pedestrians and cyclists.
It marks a change in direction for the city council after the authority’s chief executive Tim Johnson said he wanted to “get rid of it” as he described the walkway as “horrible” last year.
The comments prompted backlash from Wolves fans as they called for their “iconic” subway – a feature of matchdays for decades – to remain.
Now it will stay a part of the city as a new toucan crossing is constructed across the ring road amid safety concerns for pedestrians.
Councillor Steve Evans said: “We are constantly reviewing the most effective ways to improve connectivity in our city centre as new investment comes in and major regeneration takes place.
“The Molineux area of the city is no different and conversations continue with the football club, over how their long-term Molineux Stadium expansion plans fit into this, and with the University of Wolverhampton, on how it can best serve their campus.
Option
“The new toucan crossing over Ring Road St Peters will simply provide an additional option to the subway, which is currently the most direct route for people wanting to get from the city centre to the football stadium or the neighbouring university buildings. The subway will therefore be unaffected.”
“The subway is iconic, especially to Wolves fans, we have recently invested in improvements to it and installed artwork and it will of course remain for those who wish to use it, but not everyone feels safe down there, especially at night.
“The route is obviously hugely busy on match days, but it is also used by many workers, students and shoppers on a daily basis."
The crossing, for pedestrians and cyclists, will stretch from where Paternoster Row meets the ring road, across the central reservation and over to the Molineux Hotel City Archives building.
Work on the project is set to get under way – due to a condition with the cash boost – next month, with hopes it will be completed by September.
Councillor Steve Evans added: “The Government has created this funding for schemes which make it easier and safer for people to walk and cycle during the pandemic and we think that this new crossing will do that.
“I want to pay tribute to council transport officers who put together this bid and developed a deliverable scheme which satisfied the Government’s funding criteria.”
Bids will also be made by the council to create a “cycleway” which would run through the Ring Road central reservation – between Stafford Street and Chapel Ash – to create a safe route for cyclists.
