Highways England confirms cycling works under way at 40 locations

Highways England says it has begun work on 40 schemes designed to make it safer for cyclists to cross motorway junctions, including in the north west, and ride along major A roads, with the A12 in Suffolk among those to benefit from improvements.

The works form part of a £100 million package involving 200 cycling separate projects that the agency is delivering over the next five years under the government’s Road Investment Strategy.

It says that the schemes will provide safe routes suitable for cyclists of all abilities and separated from motor traffic.

Andrew Jones, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport, said: “Our investment in cycling infrastructure will make cycling safer and ultimately cut congestion on the roads.

“Highways England is well on the way to delivering £100 million worth of improvements to cycling facilities around major roads over the next five years.

“This important work is part of a transformational programme to make travelling by bike a more attractive option – great news for cyclists and motorists.”

The works currently being undertaken include cycle lanes and crossings being installed at nine motorway junctions and on major A roads including a two and a half mile section of the A12 at Lowestoft and a bridge across the A27 at Kingsham in Hampshire.

New signs will also be put in place on the A590 in Cumbria, and new cycle lanes will help riders get across junction 4 of the M58 at Skelmersdale in Lancashire and junction 4 of the M53 on the Wirral.

Richard Leonard, Cycling Champion at Highways England, said: “These improvements will make cycling easier around major A roads and over motorway junctions across England.

“They will contribute towards a connected, comfortable, attractive and high quality cycling network, suitable and safe for use by people of all ages and abilities.

“We want to provide safe, accessible and integrated cycling facilities that give people a genuine choice about whether to travel in their car to get on a bike instead.

“If we can encourage more people to use their bikes for local journeys then this should also improve the flow of traffic for drivers travelling longer distances.”

News of work commencing on the projects follows the publication last week of Highways England’s Cycling Strategy.

> Highways England's Cycling Strategy