Cyclists and pedestrians in west Warrington are getting a major boost, thanks to the start of work on a £1.6m project.
Construction is under way on a new shared-use footpath alongside Burtonwood Road/Clay Lane, between Burtonwood and Omega.
The new Burtonwood Cycleway is being created for use by cyclists and pedestrians and will improve access to and from the Omega employment site as well as the Gemini retail park.
It forms part of the Omega local highways project, a series of initiatives in west Warrington to provide additional highway capacity, enhance network resilience, and improve cycling and pedestrian facilities.
The scheme itself is a key link within the councils Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) which aims to create a network of safer routes across the town to benefit cyclists and pedestrians.
Funding for the new path is being provided by:
• The Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership via a successful bid to the £5m Local Growth Fund Sustainable Transport Fund
• A contribution from the Omega s106 Agreement
• Council borrowing
Warrington Borough Council Deputy Leader, Cllr Cathy Mitchell, said: “This is a fantastic project which will make a real difference to cyclists and pedestrians, providing an excellent link between Burtonwood Village and Omega for people of all ages, improving safety and supporting businesses. I’m delighted work is getting under way on the new path.”
Cabinet member for highways, transportation and public realm, Cllr Hans Mundry, said: “This is the latest part of our work to improve the west Warrington sustainable transport network. It will help promote walking and cycling, while supporting jobs, growth and development at Omega, one of our key employment sites.”
Clare Hayward MBE DL, Chair of Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “Sustainability is the lynch-pin to building a better and stronger future for Cheshire and Warrington. The LEP supported eight projects across the sub-region from the £5m Sustainable Transport fund, with the Burtonwood to Omega Cycleway being one of the first to get underway.
“We are committed to supporting improvements in our communities to help make them great places to live and work. This investment forms part of an £11.3m investment in Warrington West that also includes the new Warrington West Station and the access improvements to Omega, one of the north’s leading employment sites.”
The contractor for the scheme is George Cox and Sons Ltd. Works are scheduled to be completed by December 2020.
The council has written to all residents in the Burtonwood area to advise them of the works, and information boards are being put in place to inform the travelling public.
Disruption will be kept to a minimum, as all works will take place during the day. For the safety of the workforce, temporary lights may occasionally be used.
The Omega local highways project is just one part of a wider programme of transport improvements across Warrington. The council will have delivered over £100m worth of transport improvement schemes in the five years between 2016 and 2021.
These include:
• Improvements at M62 Junction 8
• The Warrington East project – a series of transport and highways improvements on the A574 Birchwood Way
• Further improvements to a number of junctions around Omega and Lingley Mere
• The recently opened Warrington West Railway Station
• The Centre Park Link scheme – due to open to traffic before the end of 2020
• New cycle routes such as the Westbrook Dallam greenway, the Nansen Close link, and the forthcoming improvements to the Trans Pennine Trail.
For further information about the Burtonwood Cycleway scheme, please visit warrington.gov.uk/Burtonwoodcycleway or email Burtonwoodcycleway@warrington.gov.uk
If you would like more information on the Omega Local Highways project, please contact the team at WWH@warrington.gov.uk
