Safe streets save lives in Trafford

safe streets save lives

Following lockdown and as per government guidelines a number of solutions were introduced, including £5m of funding made available through the Mayor’s Cycling and Walking Challenge Fund, for Greater Manchester’s local authorities. The funding was to implement measures and safe modes of transport on a temporary basis, giving pedestrians and cyclists more space and safer solutions when travelling.

Travel behaviour across the city region transformed during lockdown, with more people opting to walk or cycle when making shorter journeys and exercising.

In May Trafford Council reallocated one lane of the A56 carriageway space used by vehicles to cyclists. This was implemented by introducing pop-up lanes in both directions between Altrincham and Trafford Council’s boundary with Manchester City Council.

Following discussions between One Trafford Partnership, Trafford Council, the Emergency Services, Highways England and TfGM (walking/cycling team, urban traffic control, bus liaison and A56 corridor manager), works began on 26 May 2020, to implement the temporary pop-up cycle lanes on the A56.

The delivery programme was spread over a number of phases subject to the availability of resources (labour and materials). The initial phase started at Stretford Mall and proceeded towards the Trafford Council and Manchester City Council boundary.

The next section followed between Dane Road and Stretford Mall, including around junction 7 of the M60. The phased delivery of the sections between Dane Road and Altrincham began but after considerable congestion issues, the decision was made to have these removed.

The remaining layout across the A56 has been continuously maintained, monitored and where necessary, adapted and enhanced to meet the objectives of encouraging the safe use of sustainable modes of transport.

More recently, the volume of traffic has increased with some people returning to work and children returning to schools, leading to an increase of congestion on the highway network. As lockdown has eased, the cycle lanes have been reviewed and alterations to the A56 will be made in the coming weeks. 

List of locations for short and long-term adjustments to be made from Tuesday 15 September (view map)

  • Temporary cones to be removed in the short term from Dane Road to the Chester Road Recycling Centre (Stretford Tip), with a realignment of the road layout to provide protection through this section (to be undertaken as soon as possible, subject to funding)
  • Upgrade to the existing temporary cones along the A56 to provide better cycling infrastructure from Chester Road Recycling Centre (Stretford Tip) to Talbot Road
  • Temporary cones to be removed through Gorse Hill along the A56, from Talbot Road to White City Circle, with a view of longer-term plans in the future
  • Upgrade to the existing temporary cones along the A56 to provide better cycling infrastructure from White City Circle to Cornbrook Road.

Key messages:

  • Short, medium and long-term options being reviewed to ease congestion and improve the protected cycle way from Dane Road to Cornbrook Road in Trafford, to the Manchester boundary, while retaining two lanes for motor vehicles along the A56
  • New proposal will seek to accommodate residents in Trafford
  • A major increase in the number of cyclists making use of the pop-up cycles lanes along the A56 since they were put in place. The average daily number of people using the pop-up cycle lanes has increased from 102 in June 2020, to 336 in August 2020
  • The level of comments about removing the temporary measures on the A56 have recently increased due to the rise in traffic volumes, children going back to school and people going back to work
  • The short and long-term adjustments will continue to provide a level of protection for cycling, while easing congestion for the A56 and the surrounding network
  • The phased approach of the short and long-term measures that will come into effect from Tuesday 15 September 2020.

Follow the conversation @OneTrafford or to discuss any of the above please contact the team by email at safestreetstrafford@amey.co.uk