UK-first ‘CYCLOPS’ junction set for completion

UK-first ‘CYCLOPS’ junction set for completion

A road closure will be in place this week to allow the completion of a key milestone in the £13.4 million Manchester to Chorlton cycling and walking route.

The Royce Road junction in Hulme will close to traffic from Thursday 18 – Sunday 21 June in all directions, allowing resurfacing work to be carried out for the new “CYCLOPS” junction – a UK first.

The CYCLOPS junction (Cycle Optimised Protected Signals) has been designed to fully segregate cyclists from general traffic, improving safety for all road users.

The junction will allow bicycles to approach from four ‘arms’ which converge onto a cycle track which completely encircles the junction 

This means that bicycles can make a right turn at the junction, protected from traffic, and can complete the manoeuvre in one movement, dependent on signal timings.

To allow resurfacing work to be completed, a full closure of the Royce Road junction is required from Thursday 18 – Sunday 21 June, with signed diversions in place and resident access maintained throughout.  

After the surfacing work at the junction and its approaches is completed, new traffic lights are set to be commissioned, making the CYCLOPS junction fully operational.

Subject to weather conditions, traffic management is due to be lifted on Monday 22 June.  Temporary signals will be in place until new permanent lights can be switched on to make the new layout fully operational by Friday 26 June. 

The completion of the CYCLOPS junction will mark the end of construction work on the first phase of the project, which has also seen the creation of segregated cycle lanes along Chorlton Road, from Chester Road to Stretford Road.  The next phase of the scheme will see improvements to cycling and walking infrastructure on Chorlton Road between Stretford Road and Moss Lane East.

Executive Member for the Environment, Planning and Transport, Councillor Angeliki Stogia, said: “This is a big step forward in our work to create permanent, high-quality cycling and walking infrastructure which will support the long-term shift to active travel that we want to see right across the city.

“The trailblazing new CYCLOPS junction will maximise opportunities for safer cycling and walking in this area and we are really proud and excited to deliver this innovative project.

“And it is only the latest milestone in our ambitious plans to invest in a network of safe routes for people travelling on foot or by bike.  We’re continuing to move forward with our £79m pipeline of projects, which will enable more people across the city to make the switch to walking and cycling for their everyday journeys.”

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