Public enjoy their first steps along Southsea's fabulous new promenade - in pictures

The promenade between the Blue Reef Aquarium and the Hovertravel terminal reopened in time for the four-day Easter bank holiday weekend, allowing the public to enjoy for themselves the results of a major upgrade in the area as part of the ongoing Southsea Coastal Scheme.

Runners, cyclists, dog walkers and families have all been making the most of the area this morning - with people now able to walk along the prom from Old Curtain Moat to the Pyramids past Southsea Castle uninterrupted, with work how having been completed on all three sections over the past few years.

Highlights include:

• The two-tier 'Centenary Place' featuring a play area, seating and planting
• New lighting and seating - including the return of the iconic yellow shelters
• Grade II listed memorials placed centrally along the promenade to create a 'memorial walk'
• Luna Park in a new position
• A one-way road system (westbound) with a single carriageway and a reduction in speed limit from 30mph to 20mph
• A 3m wide two-way cycle lane running alongside the promenade, segregated from carparking by a 2m buffer strip
• An 8m wide promenade in most areas
• Road raising has removed the need for steps around the Naval War Memorial, with new granite surroundings emphasising its historic significance
• Three new drinking water points
• Stepped access onto the beach, with a step-free access near the Hovertravel terminal
• A larger, wider beach
• Two new pedestrian crossings at either end of the section

Project Manager Amy Bandrés Arbués said the team which has been working on were delighted the public will finally be able to see all of the completed promenade which links up with the section previously completed towards Southsea Castle.

She said: “We want to welcome you all down so you can see what we have achieved along this frontage.”

Work will begin to remove the temporary footpath along Southsea Common next week.

Read more about the project here