THE underpass due to be built beneath Plymouth Road in Tavistock came a step closer this week after work to construct the subway was put out to tender.
The underpass, part of a £500,000 package including a new cycle network from the Meadows to Brook industrial estate, is being installed by Devon County Council.
Mike Parnell, local services officer, confirmed to the Times he is expecting tenders for the work to be returned in the next few days.
Mr Parnell said: 'We should be getting the tenders back on June 12. Providing everything is okay, we are looking to start work on July 8, finishing in mid-January.
'What we are hoping to do, to keep disruption to a minimum, is to put in a temporary bridge to maintain two-way traffic.'
Mr Parnell said he has had meetings with head teachers from Tavistock College and Tavistock Primary School, who are fully 'on board' with the project.
It is hoped the underpass and cycle route, which will run parallel with the canal along the two schools' boundaries, will provide safer walking and cycling for pupils.
Mr Parnell said the design of the underpass had been an important aspect of the project.
'What we have tried to do is design out any hiding places or nooks and crannies and it will be completely lit,' said Mr Parnell, who hoped the school students will follow the ongoing work and even get involved themselves.
He said: 'We are going to get some sort of information board going and we have invited the school and college to come up with some sort of decoration or design.'
Joe Flynn, headteacher at Tavistock Primary School, said everyone at the school was looking forward to the underpass being built.
Mr Flynn said: 'We are more than willing to be involved in some sort of artwork for the underpass — but we have not yet been told what money is in the budget, or what form the decoration can take.'
Graham Stoate, vice-principal at Tavistock College, said the school had a 'very keen' art department which had been involved in other projects in the town, such as the new library in Plymouth Road. 'We would certainly want to be involved,' he said.
The new cycle route will eventually continue alongside Tavistock Canal and will cross the River Tavy using a reclaimed and previously listed road bridge from North Devon.
The path will cross the industrial estate at Brook, pass Safeway and go through Bishopsmead. It is hoped eventually to link it to the old railway track towards Horrabridge, Yelverton and, ultimately, Plymouth.
It is likely to be constructed in phases, as funding becomes available.