North East Gateway walking and cycling route
We’re looking to make walking and cycling in the north and east of the city a safer and more enjoyable experience for everyone. We have designed plans for a new continuous cycling and walking route, linking the areas to the north and east of the city – Ancoats, New Islington, New Cross, New Town, Redbank and the Green Quarter – to each other and the city centre. It will be safer, greener and better for everyone – especially for those travelling on foot and by bike as well as other transport users.
It will give better access to the city centre, joining up and improving public spaces, as well as link the New Islington Metrolink with the proposed M62 Express Bus Corridor.
This walking and cycling route has been designed in line with current accessibility guidance and is away from the busier inner relief route. We hope that this will encourage more people of all ages and abilities to travel safely between the north and east of the city, while still being able to link to the existing routes and the emerging bee network routes.
Benefits
When the work is completed, it will bring the following benefits:
- Better walking and cycling-friendly public areas that make it easier for people to move between existing neighbourhoods and areas which are still developing.
- Better access for those who work on the north and east edge of the city centre.
- Better joined-up public spaces and signs to encourage more people to walk and cycle.
- Re-developing a significant portion of brownfield land at the North and East edge of the city centre (which is currently dominated by car parking) into sustainable urban living.
- Improving walking and cycling access to the city centre and public transport, and connections to other walking and cycling schemes in other parts of the city, like the Northern Quarter between Piccadilly and Victoria Stations, the Rochdale and Ashton Canals, and the National Cycle Network route 66.
- Connecting with proposed improvements to Great Ancoats Street, making it easier to cross, with better public spaces.
The scheme will also help to address some issues in the area, including:
- Physical barriers to cycling and walking, like the River Irk, Ashton Canal, and railway viaducts
- Junctions which are not pedestrian/cyclist friendly (Oldham Road, Rochdale Road and Dantzic Street)
- Existing public spaces which are not easy to walk or cycle through