New cycle route to serve popular business park

Highways England are building a new cycle route to serve a popular business park near Skelmersdale.

A new cycle route is being created by Highways England, providing safer travel options for commuters from Skelmersdale to West Lancashire Investment Centre. The new scheme is over the M58, and will allow better accessibility to the major business park south of the motorway.

Pedestrians and cyclists will benefit from the scheme, which involves widening the footpath, improving pedestrian crossings facilities and installing new signs and safety barriers on the bridge, which carries the A5068 over the M58 at junction 4.

Project Manager Phil Tyrrell said: “Cycling is growing in popularity both for commuter and leisure riders, as people look for ways to improve their health and reduce their impact on the environment.

“The improvements we’re making on the bridge will make it easier and safer for cyclists to cross over the M58, travelling between Skelmersdale and a popular business park.

The scheme is one of 10 projects taking place across the North West to make is easier for cyclists to use major A roads and cross motorway junctions. All projects are due to be completed later this Spring.

To support work on the bridge, night closures will be required between 9pm and 5am on the M58 between junctions 3 and 4 to install and remove safety measures. These will take place on Monday 9, Tuesday 10, Wednesday 11, Saturday 21, Sunday 22 and Monday 23 May.

The government set up a fund worth £100M for cycle safety as part of its Road Investment Strategy. Highways England is carrying out over 200 cycling projects over the next five years, with more than 40 schemes already underway.

The schemes aim to separate cyclists from traffic, providing new facilities and suitable for use by cyclists of all abilities.

The investment in cycling schemes supports the government’s ambition to encourage walking and cycling so that it becomes normal for short journeys or as part of a longer journey.

 

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