A new £85m cycling scheme is being introduced to the city which will bring 55 miles of protected routes and 140 crossings by the end of 2021. 

This is all part of Chris Boardman’s plan to build the ‘UK’s largest cycling and walking network’ labelled the ‘Bee Network’ which was announced two years ago. 

The initiative is being funded by the Mayor’s Challenge Fund and all of Greater Manchester’s 10 districts will see changes from the project,

Boardman stated “People showed that if they felt safe they would cycle and I think that’s given councils the confidence to accelerate this and realise this should be a part of our future and that enthusiasm is coming across and schemes are starting to move really quickly. A third of households in Greater Manchester don’t have a car and, with the reduced capacity on public transport, it’s a ‘moral imperative’ to offer an alternative way to get around.”

The 35 projects are as follows..

Greater Manchester

A series of new and upgraded crossings at locations across Greater Manchester totalling at £2.2m. The first crossings are said to be completed during Winter 2020, plus a £6.1m safety camera digitalisation and a £7.1m bike hire scheme due to launch in Spring 2021.

Bolton

A £7m Manchester Road Gateway, due to be completed by winter 2021 including junction upgrades to create protected cycle tracks and crossings outside Bolton Station on Trinity Street and Bradford Street, and a contra-flow cycle lane on Newport Street.

Bury

£2.2m crossing point and junction improvements to improve connectivity and safety for people travelling by foot and bike, expected to be completed by Winter 2021.

Manchester

£3.25m Mancunian Way / Princess Road junction, due to be completed in Winter 2020. Locals can expect a junction upgrade where Mancunian Way meets Princess Road. The existing subways will be removed and protected cycle tracks will be created, as well as pedestrian path crossings. Plus, a new Manchester to Chorlton beeway road is due to be completed in Spring 2021.

Beswick active neighbourhood. Due to be completed in Summer 2021. A ‘filtered neighbourhood’ to make roads in the area safer and more pleasant.

£2m Beswick active neighbourhood. A ‘filtered neighbourhood’ to make roads in the area safer and more pleasant, subject to consultation.

£10.5m “Route 86” Northern Quarter – Piccadilly to Victoria beeway. Walking and cycling route through Manchester’s Northern Quarter, connecting Piccadilly and Victoria.

£1.3m Rochdale Canal bridge. Due to be completed in Autumn 2021 – upgrades to the Rochdale canal corridor linking existing and developing communities. This includes improvements to the canal towpaths, improved access under a low bridge at Butler Street and improved accessibility to four sets of steps.

Oldham

£228,000. Union Street West bridge improvements. The bridge has already been the subject of refurbishment. This project will see the refurbishment completed, providing a replacement bridge deck surface.

£452,000 King Street bridge improvements.Complete refurbishment of an existing pedestrian and cycle bridge, providing a key link into Oldham town centre from a number of residential areas to the south.

£612,000 Chadderton improvements. 

£706,000. Royton town centre connections. 

Salford

£4.6m. Swinton Greenway. A traffic-free, off-road walking and cycling corridor connecting Swinton to Monton, plus lots of other links, connecting communities into the route.

£2.6m RHS Links. Improving the on foot and by bike experience in the area, improving access to the new RHS Bridgewater Garden, Worsley College, Parr Fold Park, and Walkden Train Station.

£1.1m. Gore Street connection. 

Stockport

£500,000 on Gilbent road crossing. Due to be completed Winter 2020, an enhanced crossing for people travelling by bike and on foot in Cheadle Hulme. It will better connect residential areas, including access to Thorn Grove Primary School.

£700,000 Offerton to Stockport beeway, due for completion Autumn 2021. A continuous cycling and walking route from Offerton to Stockport town centre.

£1.1m Hazel Grove upgrades. Due for completion Autumn 2021. A number of off-road routes to link communities and encourage walking and cycling.

£800,000 Ladybrook Valley. Due for completion Spring 2021. Scheme to complete a ‘missing link’ of the continuous walking and cycling route through the Ladybrook Valley. The section is around 1.1km between Ladybridge Road and Bramhall Park Road, with an additional spur to Blenheim Road. The works will provide a surfaced route suitable for cycling, along a route which is currently a grassy footpath.

£5m Heaton Cycle Links. Due for completion in 2021. 

A package of measures to create a series of quiet routes for pedestrians and cyclists between the Manchester Cycleway (Fallowfield Loop) and the Trans-Pennine Trail at Heaton Mersey

£1.2m Cheadle Hulme Crossings Package.

Tameside

Tameside active neighbourhood. Phase one, which is due to be completed in Summer 2021, includes improvements such as creating filtered neighbourhoods where people are prioritised over cars. Upgrades will also be made to traffic free routes and segregated facilities will be provided for bikes on more major roads.

£1.7m Tameside active neighbourhood. Phase two, improvements which will include the creation of more attractive, safer and accessible routes for cyclists.

Trafford

Urmston active neighbourhood – Phase one due to be completed in Autumn 2021, to improve the walking and cycling environment in the Urmston area. Interventions will be community and stakeholder driven and expected to include segregated cycle routes, new and upgraded crossings, improved signage, parklets, school street treatments and collision reduction measures.

Five junctions on Talbot Road, including the junction with Seymour Grove, due to be completed in Autumn 2021.