Active Travel Fund - A56 Corridor Interim Cycling and Walking Improvements (Phase One - A5014 Chester Road) Consultation

Overview

During the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and as part of the Emergency Active Travel Funding, Trafford Council installed temporary cycle lanes on the A56 and Edge Lane. This was to facilitate non-motorised transport choices for shorter journeys, such as cycling and walking.

As Covid-19 restrictions have reduced, the Council is seeking to remove the temporary cycle lanes and consult the public on an interim solution for the route that best meets the needs and expectations of a diverse local population, both now and for future generations.

In November 2021, Trafford Council began consultation with residents on the future layout of the A56 and Edge Lane, proposing three different options as a way forward. This consultation closed in December 2021, having generated 5,378 questionnaires and 25,466 comments in total.

The feedback received during the November consultation has been used to inform the next stage of the design. An interim solution is now being proposed for the A5014 Chester Road.

This scheme will result in the removal of the temporary traffic management including the traffic cones, currently placed along A56 Bridgewater Way and White City Circle, returning the A56 to normal traffic operation in both directions

Map of A56 Corridor Phase 1 proposals (PDF version)

Visualisation of A5014 Chester Road proposals viewed from the Darwen Street junction looking northeast

Visualisation of A5014 Chester Road proposals viewed from the Northumberland Road junction looking southwest

Proposals for the upgrade of walking and cycling facilities along the A5014 Chester Road include:

• Segregated cycle lanes in each direction, no less than 1.5m wide, separated from traffic by black traffic separator posts with reflective strips
• The removal of existing central hatching road markings and all the marked right turn facilities along the impacted route
• Introduction of two proposed zebra crossings along the route, one located between Darwen Street and Chorlton Street and one located between City Road and Virgil Street
• The removal of five existing uncontrolled pedestrian crossing points along the route
• Two current on-street parking bays are to be moved laterally so that they are half on the footway and half on the carriageway
• The dedicated right turn lane is to be shortened on A56 Bridgewater Way junction approach
• The removal of the temporary traffic management including the traffic cones, currently placed along A56 Bridgewater Way and White City Circle

These proposals are the first phase of an interim active travel scheme along the A56 Corridor. Phase two, which stretches along the A56 from M60 Junction 7 to Talbot Road, is currently in the preliminary design stage and will be consulted on once this stage is complete.

If the proposals are successful then the effectiveness of these interim measures will be monitored and it is anticipated that if funding is available, a permanent scheme may be considered to replace the interim measures at a later stage.

Once the consultation is complete, all responses will be analysed and used to inform the design of the scheme. Findings from the consultation will be published in due course.

Why your views matter

We are now asking residents to provide us with their views on the proposals for the scheme. Your feedback will be reviewed and used to make amendments to final design of the scheme if appropriate. We invite you to answer a series of questions to express your views.

What happens next

Thank you for providing your feedback on the proposals to modify and upgrade walking and cycling facilities along the A5014 Chester Road.

Once the consultation has closed on 18^th December, all the feedback received will be  analysed and considered to help shape the final plans.

If you would like to keep up to date with the progress of the scheme, updates will be posted on our webpage.