A KEY Basingstoke town centre road will be the subject of months of work as a £1.5million-plus improvement project swings into action in the new year.

Alencon Link will be given a makeover after Hampshire County Council bosses approved a scheme to spruce up the area.

More than £1.5m has been set aside by the county to fund works that will include planting new trees, creating a cycle path, and removing the north-side bank.

The developer-funded scheme is earmarked to start in early 2013, and is expected to finish by next April.

Hampshire County Council leader Councillor Ken Thornber said: “I think most people agree that the existing route in this area of Basingstoke is both unattractive and unappealing, especially for pedestrians and cyclists.

“When it is completed, we hope it will dramatically improve the appearance of this access to the town centre, making it safer for all road users.”

Traffic around the area will be disrupted during the early stages of the redesign, and temporary traffic lights will be installed. The remainder of the work will take place off the road.

The overgrown north-side bank will be removed, and a shared-use pedestrian cycle path will be built from Victory Roundabout up to Chapel Hill roundabout.

The subway connecting Winterthur Way to The Anvil entrance will also be removed, and a signal-controlled pedestrian crossing will be installed.

The crossing will be placed between The Malls car park exit ramp by the URS Scott Wilson building, and the Chapel Hill roundabout.

Cllr Thornber said: “We have listened to people’s concerns during consultation for the Town Access Plan and their views have helped to shape the final design for this scheme.”