Radcliffe and Salford: More than £7m approved for travel schemes

The funding aims to improve the walking, wheeling, and cycling infrastructure in both Radcliffe and Salford.

Greater Manchester’s Bee Network committee signed off the Active Travel Fund investment on Thursday, October 17.

The plans for Radcliffe will see £2.89m spent on junction improvements at Spring Lane, next to the Metrolink Park and Ride.

The scheme will feature a protected junction, keeping pedestrians and cyclists safe by separating them from traffic, and a path alongside the new STAR Academy access road, connecting over the canal to the "banana path".

The "banana path" provides an off-road route from homes on the north side of Radcliffe to the new school and the Metrolink stop.

The improvements at Spring Lane are part of a wider, four-phase scheme planned to make it easier and safer for people to walk, wheel, and cycle around Radcliffe town centre and its neighbouring areas.

In Salford, £4.32m will be invested in the Oldfield Road Corridor scheme, which will introduce segregated pedestrian and cycle tracks along the A5066 Oldfield Road Corridor between the A6 Chapel Street and A57 Regent Road.

This should provide improved access to the public transport network and encourage more people to use it.

The funding aims to improve improve the walking, wheeling, and cycling infrastructure (Image: Supplied)

Dame Sarah Storey, Active Travel Commissioner for Greater Manchester, said: "These two schemes will make a real difference in Radcliffe and Salford, making it safer and easier for people to walk, wheel or cycle along key routes to popular destinations.

"The new infrastructure to be installed near to Star Academy in Radcliffe will undoubtedly enable more pupils to travel actively to school, and once further works are complete, fully connect them to other destinations across the town centre."

“It’s also great to see funding approved for the fully segregated pedestrian and cycle tracks along Oldfield Road, a scheme that will provide people with a Bee Network standard active travel route, connecting to other cycle tracks, as well as providing better connections to public transport.”

Cllr Alan Quinn, cabinet member for the environment, climate change, and operations at Bury Council, said: "This scheme has an important role in our ongoing regeneration of Radcliffe.

"It forms the entrance to the town’s new high school, it’s next to the town’s Metrolink stop, and it’s at a crossroad in the town’s walking and cycling network.

"But this is just the start - £9 million has been earmarked for Active Travel schemes in Radcliffe from the GM City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement."

Cllr Mike McCusker, lead member for planning, transport, and sustainable development at Salford City Council, said: "The Oldfield Road Corridor scheme is a significant investment into the city’s transport infrastructure.

"The project will encompass a range of new and innovative improvements that will benefit everyone by improving our connectivity, promoting more responsible and sustainable transport options, and enhancing the safety and passenger experience of our residents and visitors to Salford."

A further £1.8 million has been approved to progress business cases for Trafford’s Carrington Sustainable Corridor and the Hindley Travel Hub project.

These infrastructure investments are all part of a joined-up plan to link the Bee Network public transport options with better walking, wheeling, and cycling routes.

The Bee Network aims to deliver sustainable economic growth, increase productivity, and connect people with education, jobs, and wider opportunities.