Posted on Tuesday 5th September 2023
Work on a new town centre cycleway in Burton which will connect to a wider network to support sustainable and active travel will soon be completed – with a one-way road closure being lifted this tomorrow, Wednesday September 6.
The Station Street/Borough Road route between the town centre and railway station will be the first section of future planned sections which will improve connectivity east to west across the town.
Further planned sections will connect to the town hall, canal, hospital, Shobnall Leisure Centre, schools, residential areas and the existing cycle network, including the National Cycle Network (NCN).
Temporary four-way traffic lights will need to remain in place until week commencing September 25 at the Station Street/Guild Street/Union Street junction.
The funding for the scheme came from a Department for Transport programme specifically to improve walking and cycling routes, not the county council’s road maintenance budget.
Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member for highways and transport David Williams said:
It’s great to see the lifting of the Station Street closure this week and we would remind people that Burton is very much open for business. We’d like to thank businesses and local residents for their understanding while work takes place.
The team has carried out a redesign of the scheme so that further works in November to divert utilities is no longer needed.
We hope people will choose cycling as a travel option into town which increases fitness and wellbeing. It’s a great way to move around over shorter journeys and discover the excellent businesses and attractions in Burton.
The project has been carried out with East Staffordshire Borough Council and Sustrans so it’s a true collaborative effort.”
The first phase on the northern side of Station Street, between Mosley Street and Union Street junction was completed earlier in the spring. Phase two work started in mid-May and includes a new cycleway on the southern side of Station Street between Mosley Street and George Street, as well as on the southern side of Borough Road between Mosley Street and the railway station.