New cycling route to serve popular business park
A new cycling route is being created to serve a popular business park near Skelmersdale.
Highways England is building a new cycle scheme over the M58, providing a safer travel option for commuters from Skelmersdale to West Lancashire Investment Centre – a major business park south of the motorway.
The scheme involves widening the footpath to accommodate pedestrians and cyclists, improving pedestrian crossing facilities and installing new signs and safety barriers on the bridge which carries the A5068 over the M58 at junction 4.
The project is one of 19 cycling schemes across the North West due to be completed later this spring to make it easier for cyclists to use major A roads and cross motorway junctions.
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.
To support the work on the bridge, night closures will be required on the M58 between junctions 3 and 4 to install and remove safety measures.
These are scheduled to take place between 9pm and 5am on:
- Monday 9, Tuesday 10 and Wednesday 11 May
- Saturday 21, Sunday 22, and Monday 23 May
Highways England is carrying out over 200 cycling projects across the country over the next five years after the government set up a £100 million dedicated fund for cycling in its Road Investment Strategy.
More than 40 schemes have now begun and are set to be completed this spring. Work will continue on the remaining projects between now and 2021.
The schemes will provide new cycling facilities which are safe, separate from traffic and can be used by cyclists of all abilities.
The first phase of the cycling programme will see cycle lanes and crossings created or improved at 7 motorway junctions in the North West, and improvements will also be made on major A roads in the county.
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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