A spectacular 100-metre cycling and walking bridge will link Stockport
railway station with the proposed new transport interchange.
This project will deliver a landmark new walking and cycling bridge providing a major new walking and cycling route linking the rail station, the new bus interchange, and Mersey Square. The project will also create a traffic-free public square, new crossings for people walking and cycling and secure cycle storage.
The projected cost for the Stockport interchange project is in the region of £57 million. The Mayor’s Challenge Fund will contribute £9 million and the remaining £48 million will come from local contributions.
A further 18 cycling and walking schemes worth £137m have been given
the green light by Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) as
part of Greater Manchester’s Bee Network.
They represent the single biggest investment in cycling and walking ever announced in the city-region and mean Greater Manchester is investing around £18 per head per year on cycling and walking – one of the highest levels in the UK.
The latest projects bring the total cycling and walking-related spend across Greater Manchester to around £204.6 million. Around £115.8 million of this funding is from the Mayor’s Challenge Fund, with £88.8 million coming from local council contributions.
The approval takes the number of endorsed schemes so far to 42 and will deliver 319 new and upgraded crossings and junctions as well as 70 miles of new cycling and walking routes. This includes 14 miles of Dutch-style cycle lanes that are protected from motor traffic.
Schemes being proposed include plans for a £10.7 million cycling and walking corridor in Rochdale, a £11.6 million route between Manchester Piccadilly and Victoria stations plus a £14.6 million bid to revolutionise travel on foot and by bike in Leigh, Atherton and Tyldesley. Active neighbourhoods, where the movement of people are prioritised over the movement of motor traffic, are also proposed in multi-million pound projects in Levenshulme and Ordsall.