A £1.5m scheme to improve and increase cycling infrastructure in St Helens Borough has been given the green light following cabinet approval to award construction contracts for two major projects.
Funded by the Liverpool City Region (LCR) – as part of a strategy to create more than 55km of green walking and cycling corridors across the City Region – and match funded by the LCR’s Transforming Cities Fund – the Sustainable Transport and Green Infrastructure scheme will see works carried out at Gerards Bridge and Canal Greenway, as well as Sankey Valley to Colliers Moss Greenway.
The overall scheme will have three elements:
- New footbridges over Rainford Brook/Sankey Canal and repairs to damaged canal walls and towpath
- New and improved on and off-road footways/cycleways connecting to the existing network across the Borough
- Watercourse improvement works to Rainford Brook to improve biodiversity and alleviate flooding at College Street which was completed in November 2020
Among the improvements for the Gerards Bridge and Canal Greenway route, 1km of three-metre-wide cycleway will be installed between College Street and Merton Bank Road as well as a path upgrade on Merton Bank Road to Park Road – while the Sankey Valley to Colliers Moss route will include an off-road cycle path from Fleet Lane to Colliers Moss railway bridge.
Welcoming the report, St Helens Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, Councillor Andy Bowden, said:
With improving residents’ health and the environment key priorities, sustainable travel projects like this are an important element within our highway infrastructure improvement schemes as we look to support a strong, thriving, inclusive and well-connected local economy.
“As a council, we’re making great strides to make walking and cycling a better and safter way to travel, opening up green and vibrant places that reflect our heritage and culture.”
Work on the Sustainable Transport and Green Infrastructure scheme is expected to start this year.
Read the cabinet report in full here: https://tinyurl.com/5y8rwsht
