Lecturer Brings Two Tunnels To Reality

Seven years ago Nigel Bryant was one of eight people who threw £20 into an ashtray with the idea of re-opening the Two Tunnels path in Bath.

As a founding committee member, the City of Bath College Stonemasonry Lecturer has dedicated countless hours to the project, designing the logo, map and flyers.

It’s been a long, hard and tireless journey to completion but Nigel sees it as “a great example of what can be achieved by volunteers with a vision and determination.”

He can remember walking through the tunnels as a schoolboy, then rediscovering them when he was out mountain biking some 25 years later.

For these reasons Nigel is very much looking forward to the re-opening of the £4 million cycling and walking route on Saturday, April 6th.

Construction began in 2010 with the shared-use path, burrowing beneath Combe Down, built on an existing disused rail line.

Nigel said: “I think the impact of the project opening has been very understated in relation to the benefits to commuters and leisure users.

“This will link communities together, provide safe routes to schools and make a flat route from Bath to the countryside and beyond.

“It will be an iconic walking and cycling route and the UK’s longest cycling tunnel.”

Nigel said he fondly remembered “how it all began from nothing” in the Raven pub on Queen Street when the group of friends got together to discuss the project’s possibility.

He said: “We chucked £20 each into an ashtray to fund some flyers and the rest is history!

“We set up a stall at Green Park Station to mark the 40th anniversary of the closure of the S&D line.

“We got over 650 signatures of support that weekend, we then contacted Sustrans and B&NES about the project, who then decided to take it on with us.”

The Two Tunnels committee has met every month to discuss planning, community involvement, progress, and publicity.

Nigel has volunteered as a designer and also the liaison ranger, organising most of the walks and rides along the route prior to its opening.

He also designed the Two Tunnels logo, which continues to be used on all the promotional flyers, posters and maps.

Nigel added: “The Two Tunnels Group has worked very closely with the local community to try to get the best results for all users and I feel that once opened the project will exceed all expectations.”

The Two Tunnels Festival and Official Opening is on Saturday, April 6^th from 11am to 5pm. It is a free-of-charge family event with live music, talks, short films, food and drink.