A56 pop-up cycle lanes scrapped

One Trafford, the partnership between Trafford Council and infrastructure services provider Amey, will remove pop-up cycle lanes from the A56 between Stretford and Manchester today following a rise in traffic congestion, despite their popularity.

For the month of August, Trafford Council reported a 421% increase in the number of cycle journeys along the route compared to the same period in 2018. Despite this, much of the pop-up infrastructure along the A56 is being scrapped.

A statement on the partnership’s Safe Streets Trafford portal said: “With the lockdown easing, the cycle lanes are being reviewed due to the build-up of congestion.

“The level of comments [calling for] removal of 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.” 

An alternative route along Talbot Road is being considered

The section of cycle lane between Dane Road and Stretford Tip will be removed with a view to realigning the road layout at a later date subject to funding, the council said. 

Between Stretford Tip and to Talbot Road, the temporary cycle lane will be retained and upgraded, as will the section of the lane that runs from White City Circle to Cornbrook Road, further up the A56. 

The pop-up lane that runs through Gorse Hill, between the turn-off for Talbot Road and White City Circle, will be removed.  

An alternative route up Talbot Road and past Old Trafford Cricket Ground forms part of the council’s “longer-term plans” for cycling infrastructure in the borough. 

Cllr Steve Adshead, executive member for environment at Trafford Council, said: “We have been monitoring the success of the pop-up cycle lanes and have listened to what the community would like now that the lockdown has eased. 

“Moving forward, we will be looking closely at how the adjusted measures will ease congestion along the route while protecting the most vulnerable road users.

“This will help us move towards [creating] a place we want future generations to be able to enjoy, while protecting the integrity of all road users.” 

The temporary measures were put in place in May using £5m of emergency government funding made available to Greater Manchester local authorities. 

In June, the council came under fire for removing a pop-up cycle lane from Ashfield Road in Sale just 48 hours after it had been installed.