Manchester City Council

05/23/2022 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/23/2022 03:07

Consultation sets out expanded walking and cycling plans in Manchester city centre

The latest plans for walking and cycling improvements in the city centre are to be laid out in a new consultation.

As set out in the Council's City Centre Transport Strategy the Council aims for 90% of all morning peak trips to the city centre to be made on foot, by cycle or using public transport by 2040.

Following a previous consultation in 2021 the public will be asked again for their views on changes to the road layout at a number of key routes into the city.

The full consultation can be found by visiting www.manchester.gov.uk/consultations.

Changes are proposed for Chester Road, Bridgewater Viaduct, Deansgate and Whitworth Street West.

Improvements that will be consulted on include:

- Construction of new footways and traffic islands

- New controlled pedestrian crossings and crossing points

- New segregated cycleway - a mixture of kerbed segregation and flexible bollards

- An upgraded junction at Deansgate/Liverpool Road/Great Bridgewater Street with pedestrian and cycle facilities

Changes are also proposed for Whitworth Street, Fairfield Street, Aytoun Street and London Road are also being consulted on.

They will include:

- Construction of new footways and traffic islands

- New controlled pedestrian crossings and crossing points

- New segregated cycleways on Whitworth Street, Fairfield Street and London Road

- New loading bays

- 20mph zone signs and road markings

Additional information on the scope and detail of the proposed changes will be available through the Council's website once the consultation launches on Monday, May 23.

The consultation will run until Monday, June 19.

An online consultation event will take place via Microsoft Teams on Thursday, 26 May between 6.30pm - 7.30pm. Please email [email protected] and you will receive a link before the event to join.

An in-person event will also be taking place on Wednesday, 1 June at the Friends Meeting House in Mount Street, M2 5NS, between 4pm and 7pm.

Councillor Tracey Rawlins, Executive Member for Environment said: "Through previous consultations we know that the public are in favour of steps to reduce the number of cars in the city centre and make it easier for people to commute in the city by cycling, walking or by public transport.

"Manchester has an ambitious goal of becoming zero carbon by 2038 and it is through schemes like the Active Travel Fund that we will encourage people to a long-term shift to more sustainable and green ways of travelling.

"I hope people will take the time to take part in this consultation and help shape a city centre which is cleaner and greener."