The final stage of the landmark Manchester to Chorlton Walking and Cycleway scheme is set to begin.
After several years of consultation and construction, work on this section - Area 3B - which runs along Manchester Road between Clarendon Road West and Sandy Lane - will begin today, Monday February 6.
The final design will include two CYCLOPS junctions, a feature which has become well-known in recent years through the roll out of this project. They will be located at the junction of Barlow Moor Road/Wilbraham Road (Four Banks), and the junction of Barlow Moor Road/High Lane and Sandy Lane.
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Councillor Tracey Rawlins, Executive Member for Environment and Transport, said: “The Manchester to Chorlton Walking and Cycleway has been a huge undertaking, and demonstrates how we are able to combine multiple modes of travel into a single project. We need to be creating clean and green networks of travel to and from the city centre which is why it’s incredibly exciting to see this scheme come to its conclusion.
“This walking and cycling route will be another forward step towards the Council’s plan to be zero-carbon by 2038 as well as providing a wealth of benefits for the communities it runs through.”
Other features of the improvements taking place include:
- Right-turn bans from Barlow Moor Road to Sandy Lane, and from Sandy Lane into Barlow Moor Road to avoid congestion and delays.
- A segregated cycle lane along the length of the route that bypasses bus stops and parking/loading bays where possible
- Narrowing of the road at junctions with side roads by building out the footway, along with raised tables to slow traffic
- Sustainable urban drainage (rain gardens) to improve the street scene, while also improving the drainage and helping to prevent flooding
- Upgrading the crossing near Ransfield Road to a toucan crossing, which allows pedestrians and cyclists to cross at the same time
The Manchester to Chorlton Walking and Cycleway scheme is part of the council's commitment to make transport across the city healthier and cleaner. It will form part of the Bee Network with more than 1,800 miles of routes, and 400 miles of Dutch-style segregated bike lanes - which the authority says is the UK’s largest joined-up network for walkers and cyclists.
The routes will connect every community in Greater Manchester and make cycling and walking an easy alternative to car travel.
Full details on the scheme can be found here.
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