Highways England is delivering 200 projects across the country over the next five years as part of a £100m cycling investment. The 40 schemes that have now begun are set to be completed by this spring.
This includes 19 cycling schemes across the North West, and aims to make it easier for cyclists to cross motorway junctions and use major A roads.
The works are a part of the £100 million dedicated fund for cycling included in the Road Investment Strategy. Other projects between now and 2021. New cycle lanes, crossings and signs will also be installed on major A roads across England.
In the first phase of the cycling programme cycle lanes and crossings will be created or improved at nine motorway junctions. They include:
* Improvements at 11 locations: along a 2.5 mile stretch of the A12 in Lowestoft, Suffolk, to provide a high quality cycle route through the town.
* New footbridge over the A27 in Kingsham in Hampshire.
* New signs on a 12 mile stretch of the A590 in Cumbria.
Transport Minister Andrew Jones said: ‘Our investment in cycling infrastructure will make cycling safer and ultimately cut congestion on the roads. This is part of a transformational programme to make travelling by bike a more attractive option, great news for cyclists and motorists.’
The North West improvements include new cycle lanes on a 2 mile stretch of the A663 between the M60 and the A627(M) near Chadderton, which will link up 'existing cycle routes.
Highways England’s Cycling Champion, Richard Leonard, said: ‘This could give people a genuine choice about whether to travel in their car to get on a bike instead. If we can encourage more people to use their bikes for local journeys then this should also improve the flow of traffic for drivers travelling longer distances.’
