George Cox & Sons wins £5.7m Bury active travel contracts

Work on the Fishpool Phase 2 and Pimhole Bee Active Travel Schemes is lined up for an October start date, with an eye to completing in November 2026.

Bury Council voted this week to appoint Bolton-based highways contractor George Cox & Sons to carry out the £5.7m project, which will see a series of junction improvements, resurfaced carriageways, and signal upgrades to roads in the Fishpool and Pimhole neighbourhoods.

Also on the to-do list: introducing toucan crossings, installing tactile pavement, and adding solar-powered lighting to improve visibility.

Bury Council’s cabinet member for the environment, Cllr Alan Quinn, emphasised that the project would “improve safety and encourage people to walk, wheel, or cycle”.

He continued: “Residents have played an important part in the consultation and, as a result, we have made a number of changes to provide the best quality scheme we can for them.

“We know travel habits won’t change overnight but, by creating the right environment, we can help more people choose greener, healthier ways to get around.”

The Fishpool part of the project has a budget of £3.8m, while the Pimhole scheme has a £1.9m price tag.

The money comes from the Mayor’s Cycling and Walking Challenge Fund, which is distributed by Transport for Greater Manchester.

As part of the contract award, George Cox & Sons has committed to a series of social value initiatives including having employment opportunities for local residents, engaging with local schools with work placements, and utilising low-carbon materials.