One kilometre of new cycle and walking routes could soon be built in Wirral as part of a nearly £3m investment.
The funding for the cycle lanes comes from the Liverpool City Region which received £710m of ring-fenced government money to spend on cycle and walking infrastructure for what Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram called “an active travel revolution” in the region.
Both schemes will be upgrades to existing cycling infrastructure and cost £2.89m. Wirral Council is holding a consultation asking people's opinions up until 5pm on December 21 2022.
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Cllr Liz Grey, chair of council's environment and transport committee, said: “These suggested schemes will provide ways to make it easier and safer for people to take a greener option when travelling and hopefully encourage more people to walk and cycle more."
One scheme on Birkenhead Road in Seacombe will upgrade the current cycle route with a segregated footpath and cycle route along the east side of the road and new parking bays along the western side of the road.
This cycle and walking route runs from the Seacombe ferry terminal along Birkenhead Road to the roundabout near the Wirral Waters developments. The council said this will improve safety “by removing the need for residents and visitors to cross the road to access their vehicles.”
Double yellow lines will be removed on the western side of the road so that more people can park and some trees will be cut down to upgrade the cycle lane. New trees will be planted elsewhere.
In Bidston and St James, there are proposals for a 3-metre wide, segregated cycle route and will be connected to a cycle and walking route currently under construction near Wallasey Bridge Road. The junction between Price Street and Beaufort Road will be “upgraded” to provide and improve walking and cycling facilities.
A new tiger crossing is also proposed for a pedestrian zebra and cycle crossings will be provided at a junction with Cavendish Street.
The funding for the cycle lanes was approved by councillors earlier this year. Cllr Tony Jones, chair of the council's regeneration committee, added: “I would urge people to get involved and have their say on these proposals so we can make sure that any changes being made to our infrastructure not only support regeneration but are changes people want."
Recently, councillors moved forward to approve funding for a cycle lane in Wallasey as well as active travel routes as part of regeneration projects in Birkenhead. Councillors also voted to move forward with the next stage to consult people on a six mile cycle route costing between £10m and £14m from Birkenhead to Wallasey.
Councillors were told that any scheme would need final approval by the government and show “good value for money.”
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