Works have commenced on a £1m walking and cycling scheme in Wilmslow.
The 2km joint walking and cycling route will run from Wilmslow railway station to the A34 bypass and is designed to improve links to education sites, including Wilmslow High School, as well as business hubs at the Royal London site and Alderley Park.
The works on Alderley Road started on Monday, 4th January, and will take 12 weeks to complete in 4 phases.
Phase 1
Alderley Road, will be closed Northbound only, from 4 January until 16 February between Fulshaw Park Roundabout and Harden Park Roundabout. This will be to facilitate civils works. Access to all properties and business' will be via Southbound lane only during this period.
Phase 2
Alderley Road, will be closed South bound only, from 18 February to 25 February between Fulshaw Park Roundabout and Harden Park Roundabout. This will be to facilitate civils works. Access to all properties and business' will be via Northbound lane only during this period.
Phase 3
Alderley Road, will be fully closed, on the following dates 17 February, 28 February and 7 March between Fulshaw Park Roundabout and Harden Park Roundabout. This will be to facilitate carriageway resurfacing works. Access to all properties and business' will remain during these periods.
Phase 4
Alderley Road, will be closed Northbound only, from 01 March to 18 March between Fullshaw Park Roundabout and Harden Park Roundabout. This will be to facilitate civils works including kerbing works, cutting back of vegetation etc. Access to all properties and business' will be via Southbound lane only during this period.
The existing sections of narrow footways along Alderley Road will be widened to provide a shared pedestrian and cycle path connecting from the A34 towards Wilmslow. The existing pedestrian crossing outside the rail station will be upgraded to provide a new Toucan crossing for pedestrians and cyclists.
A signed on-road cycle route will run between the leisure centre and Alderley Road near Wilmslow High School. Resurfacing work will take place on sections of Alderley Road and Station Road alongside additional maintenance work, such as minor drainage improvements, to take advantage of the closures.
A Council spokesperson said "We are working to implement an improved walking and cycle route between Alderley Park and Wilmslow railway station. This is to help improve access to the town centre, railway station, employment and education sites for pedestrians and cyclist, the improvements will also provide opportunities for healthier living lifestyles through physical activity.
"It will also promote greener and more active travel – boosting opportunities to cycle and walk for improved health and wellbeing."
Further information on timing of the works to upgrade the pedestrian crossing on Station Road, as well as for the installation of signage between the leisure centre and Alderley Road will be confirmed shortly.
A Council spokesperson added "We understand that there is no right time to undertake works on such busy roads but this has been planned to avoid the busy Christmas period and seeks to minimise disruption to local residents, businesses and visitors. Delays to journeys are to be expected."
Comments
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Less and less an opportunity for pedestrians to walk safe from wheeled traffic bearing down on them at xxmph; more an opportunity for those cyclists without consideration or courtesy for the slower, deafer, daydreamer, PTSD, compromised heart sufferers who can't hear/doesn't notice them silently bearing down on them until too late.
Ever noticed it's always the walker that has to give way?
There used to be an obligation for the stronger to look after the weaker; for the faster traffic to be courteous to the slower - but now it's 'get outta my waaaaay'.
Or words to that effect.
The only people who think shared pathways are good idea are the idiotic policymakers and cyclists.
The solution, from a council who are so keen to preach to us about sustainability, is to neglect what we already have and build new.
Of course, just like anything else under CEC jurisdiction, over time these will be neglected, forgotten and left to fall into a state of disrepair- Just like the roads, cycle paths and pavements we already have.
Given that you don’t like to share the pavement (and neither do I), then why are you not complaining about the many thousands of motorists that illegally drive on the pavement to park on it? This often forces pedestrians into the road. A collision between a pedestrian and a 10kg bicycle vs a pedestrian and a 1500kg vehicle is not in the same ball park although all must be avoided.