Salford’s first city centre Bee Network walking and cycling route was officially launched today by Greater Manchester’s Transport Commissioner, Chris Boardman, and Salford City Mayor, Paul Dennett.
The new route, along Blackfriars Street, includes a high-quality segregated walking and cycling route. The scheme, which cost £150,000, was funded through Greater Manchester’s allocation of national Active Travel funding from the Department of Transport.
Trialled last year on a temporary basis, the route runs for a length of 150 metres on both sides of Blackfriars Street and has been made possible by converting the road to one-way for vehicles. The lanes are protected by Rediweld Wand Orcas, similar to roadside kerbs, topped with flexible reflective wands. A pedestrian island has also been created to help people cross the road.
Salford City Mayor, Paul Dennett, said: “It is great news to launch another addition to Salford’s Bee Network and see it in action here along Blackfriars Street.
“Salford has been successful in bidding for £28.3millon from the Mayor’s Challenge Fund and has a further £900k from the Active Travel Fund, from which a proportion paid for this scheme.
“We will continue to develop and implement walking and cycling improvements to connect communities across our city and make it easier for people to travel into Manchester. Several high profile schemes are currently on site such as RHS Bridgewater Links and Swinton Greenway. Plans are taking shape behind the scenes and, as soon as we are able, we will communicate new routes in our great city.”
Transport Commissioner, Chris Boardman, added:
“It’s fantastic to be able to see the Blackfriars Street route completed and being used by people getting from A to B on foot or by bike. The street provides a vital link over the River Irwell between Salford and Manchester and will connect up with two other Bee Network routes, creating a high quality network. These routes are going to be transformational for local people and will enable hundreds of thousands of journeys to happen without cars.”
The new route will link two further Bee Network routes that are in development – Chapel Street East and Broughton Cycleway. A temporary cycling and walking route is currently in place on Chapel Street East as part of national government’s emergency active travel fund.
