£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.

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’.

Included in 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 - is the one in 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.

---

Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something going on in and around Oldham? Let us know by emailing news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk , calling our Oldham-based newsroom on 0161 633 2121 , tweeting us @oldhamchronicle or messaging us through our Facebook page. All contact will be treated in confidence.