£16m funding boost for 24 miles of permanent walking and cycling routes

An extra 24 miles of permanent cycling and walking routes will be built across Greater Manchester using almost £16m in government funding.

Permanent and ‘pop-up’ cycle lanes, footpaths, pedestrian crossings and traffic calming measures feature amongst 25 schemes delivered in each of the 10 boroughs.

They form the second phase of Greater Manchester’s active travel vision, with the city-region using a £3.1m emergency government grant to trial temporary cycle lanes and traffic-free zones over the summer.

Some of these projects, such as the pop-up cycle lane on the A56 in Trafford, have since been scrapped despite proving popular with their target audience.

Meanwhile Manchester council were heavily criticised for not buying into the idea of temporary cycle routes cutting through the city, and instead favoured permanent solutions.

But the latest round of funding, which is more than Greater Manchester asked, has been welcomed by mayor Andy Burnham as a ‘huge vote of confidence’ from the government.

Mr Burnham said: “They clearly see great value in our ambitious plans to make Greater Manchester a true cycling and walking region.

“This latest round of funding will not only support our long-term recovery from the pandemic, it will reduce congestion and air pollution on our roads, making our streets nicer places to be on foot and by bike, and moving us a step closer to a truly integrated transport system.”

Chris Boardman, the city-region’s cycling and walking commissioner, said the money would be used to make permanent improvements to encourage people to make long-term changes to their walking and cycling habits.

The Olympic champion cyclist added: “By giving more people the choice to walk or ride to shops and school for those shorter local journeys, we can change travel habits for good, improve our health, clean up the air and, ultimately, make us happier.”

Greater Manchester has already committed to delivering 55 miles of permanent, high quality cycling and walking routes by December 2021. 

The Bee Network, first announced two years ago, has been described as ‘the UK’s largest cycling and walking network’.

But these are the schemes that will be delivered as part of the second tranche of funding from the government’s active travel fund – subject to public consultation.

Tameside

Parts of Dowson Road in Hyde will be reallocated to provide space for cyclists which will initially be in the form of pop up lanes.

Further pop-up lanes are planned Ashton-under-Lyne along the A6410 Lord Sheldon Way, A6043 Wellington Road and A670 Penny Meadow/Mossley from the junction of Richmond Street to Rose Hill Road.

Meanwhile the western end of Stamford Street Central could be closed to provide a filter for pedestrians and cyclists only.

A number of existing lanes across the borough will also be improved.

Oldham

Extra measures will be taken to promote cycling, walking and social distancing outside the borough’s schools by restricting vehicle access at different times of day.

In Royton there are plans for a modal filter at Chapel Street’s junction with Sandy Lane, which will include side road crossings, pavement widening, a one-way cycle route and a zebra crossing linking to the new crossing on Rochdale Road.

Another modal filter, or ‘quiet route’, for pedestrians and cyclists is planned on Coal Pit Lane which will involve closing part of White Bank Road towards the Ashton Road junction.

A series of improvements are also planned along the cycle path which follows the disused railway linking Oldham town centre to Grotton.

The council also wants to provide better cycle and pedestrian facilities leading to the Royal Oldham Hospital from the subway at Westhulme Avenue.

A final modal filter is planned on Wellington Street with points closures from Alexandra Retail Park and the existing Park Road scheme to connect with the Toucan crossing at the Rhodes Bank/Waterloo Street junction.