Cyclists, pedestrians, motorists and bus passengers can again fully access Wellgate shops and businesses, with the completion of the Broom Road Cycleways scheme and reopening of Clifton Lane roundabout.
At Wellgate and Broom Road a £3.6m scheme sees Rotherham Council introducing 1.4km of dedicated cycle tracks on Wellgate between Hollowgate and Boswell Street, along with three new signalised junctions, one new road crossing, two improved road crossings and associated connecting works.
Two-way traffic has returned to Wellgate, double yellow lines are controlling nuisance parking and the cycle lanes are ready for use. Resurfacing on Broom Road is now complete, including line markings.
The finishing touches will be made to Wellgate with resurfacing to take place around the third week in January to minimise disturbance to businesses during the run up to the festive period.
The council say that the latest phases of the cycleways will provide a safe and pleasant cycling environment that connects developing communities along the route, reducing air pollution, congestion and supporting healthy lifestyles.
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Clifton Roundabout, along with its approaches, has been narrowed to a single lane to control vehicle speeds, provide space for cycle tracks, separate from traffic and pedestrians, all the way around, and improve the refuge areas for pedestrians and cyclists crossing each arm of the roundabout.
The current bus lane on Broom Road now ends before the roundabout where two lanes merge into one, with the cycle track alongside. The existing westbound bus lane will be kept, and goods vehicles will be newly allowed to use the bus lane.
Rothbiz revealed when the scheme was proposed in 2021 that it would reduce the capacity of the roundabout, making queuing longer at busy times.
Despite representing poor value for money, funders acknowledged that "arguably (with evidence), some “sticks” as well as “carrots” are necessary to encourage more active travel."
ESH Group secured the contract for the works, which began in April.
The funding for the scheme was secured by the council through the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) Active Travel Fund (ATF), Gainshare and the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS). The rationale for the scheme is to encourage a mode shift away from private car use and to enable cycling in an area identified as a priority in the Rotherham Cycling Strategy.
Images: RMBC
At Wellgate and Broom Road a £3.6m scheme sees Rotherham Council introducing 1.4km of dedicated cycle tracks on Wellgate between Hollowgate and Boswell Street, along with three new signalised junctions, one new road crossing, two improved road crossings and associated connecting works.
Two-way traffic has returned to Wellgate, double yellow lines are controlling nuisance parking and the cycle lanes are ready for use. Resurfacing on Broom Road is now complete, including line markings.
The finishing touches will be made to Wellgate with resurfacing to take place around the third week in January to minimise disturbance to businesses during the run up to the festive period.
The council say that the latest phases of the cycleways will provide a safe and pleasant cycling environment that connects developing communities along the route, reducing air pollution, congestion and supporting healthy lifestyles.
Advertisement
Clifton Roundabout, along with its approaches, has been narrowed to a single lane to control vehicle speeds, provide space for cycle tracks, separate from traffic and pedestrians, all the way around, and improve the refuge areas for pedestrians and cyclists crossing each arm of the roundabout.
The current bus lane on Broom Road now ends before the roundabout where two lanes merge into one, with the cycle track alongside. The existing westbound bus lane will be kept, and goods vehicles will be newly allowed to use the bus lane.
Rothbiz revealed when the scheme was proposed in 2021 that it would reduce the capacity of the roundabout, making queuing longer at busy times.
Despite representing poor value for money, funders acknowledged that "arguably (with evidence), some “sticks” as well as “carrots” are necessary to encourage more active travel."
ESH Group secured the contract for the works, which began in April.
The funding for the scheme was secured by the council through the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) Active Travel Fund (ATF), Gainshare and the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS). The rationale for the scheme is to encourage a mode shift away from private car use and to enable cycling in an area identified as a priority in the Rotherham Cycling Strategy.
Images: RMBC
Effectively a mile of cycle track for 3.6 million?....have I read that right.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a bargain to me.
DeleteSimply astounding
ReplyDeleteJeff
DeleteIt looks diabolical. And will most likely keep people away from town to avoid the obvious congestion it will cause. Well done this may be the final twist of the knife that kills off rotherham town centre
ReplyDeleteThe cycle lanes look quite bright and cheerful. I think they are a great addition to the town. And if they slow down the Subaru lunatics job sorted.
DeleteRmbc want compensation for how long it's took ESH to do the work so far they are taking the mick. And sheffield Road still not completed
DeleteYes, but look how much money ESH workers are putting into the local economy
DeleteThis scheme is a complete disgrace. Always has been, always will be.
ReplyDeleteIt's clear from the outset, from the sham consultation to the simple and obvious facts that are so blindingly obvious to everyone apart from the powers that be in RMBC that this will make accessing an effectively empty town centre even worse... yet SYMCA still gave it the green light. What planet do these people live on?
Rotherham Council should be doing everything in its powers to try and get more people into the town centre, not deterring them by trying to solve a problem that wasn't there.
I'm just happy that this has made it easier to cycle from the town centre to Bluecoat, which is uphill and a hell of a journey.
DeleteAgreed.
DeleteThey are trying to get more cyclists into town in the hope that the tour de Yorkshire will eventually condescend to slum it by holding a heat through the town centre. More hope of getting Boris Johnson to string a sentence together and for it to even faintly resemble the truth.
ReplyDeleteTour de Yorkshire hasn’t been held since 2019. Keep up.
DeleteReally? Shows how much interest I have in motocross.
DeleteThe report states double yellow lines will control nuisance parking, seeing as there is pretty much zero enforcement down on wellgate are they sure about that.
ReplyDeleteAs someone who finds parking a nuisance I welcome the double yellow lines if they are helpful.
DeleteBut there is zero enforcement so they are pointless.
DeleteTry parking on them for 15 minutes and then come back and tell us there is zero enforcement.
DeleteUnder legislation currently passing through Parliament, traffic wardens and community bobbies will be allowed to carry small arms and shoot to kill if parking regulations are flouted. Suella Braverman says the proposed legislation does not go far enough and argues that traffic wardens should be biven powers to taser rough sleepers and unruly congregations such as food bank queues.
ReplyDeleteCan't really argue with that. If only Boris had got his way and allowed all old people to die from covid we wouldn't have this problem with congestion anyway.
DeleteOut of interest, as part of the carrot and stick approach to cycling - how many councillors cycle to meetings? Or does the budget not stretch to that figure required to undertake a study?
ReplyDeleteCouncil minutes for 2022 reveal that 42 per cent of councillors walked to meetings, 38 per cent used motor cars, 2 per cent used skate boards, 1 per cent pogo sticks, 1 per cent cycled, with the remainder using mobility scooters on a share basis.
DeleteAnother totally uneeded waste of money by rmbc, dig up the road and block access for over a year to put in uneeded cycle lanes and narrow the access road to increase congestion.The sides road access points are dangerous whoever approved this wants sacking.
ReplyDeleteI agree. It was Suella Braverman
DeleteAs a cyclist I welcome this initiative. Sorry if this inconveniences motorists who I know are in such a rush to get into town to do their shopping or have to drive their 4 x 4s 250 yards to drop off their children at Broom Valley School.
ReplyDeleteI agree with that!! Trying to negotiate my green mobility scooter round Range Rovers to get to my Council meeting is an absolute nightmare during the school run. Some parents walk further from their front door to the garage than it would be to walk their tattood little offspring to school. And don't get me started on the yummy mummy Tanyard flat white brigade who take up all the room in local coffee shops with their off road pushchairs!!
DeleteAre you suggesting Planning don't know what they are doing?
ReplyDeleteWhen I visited town on Saturday morning, there was a Morrison's delivery van which stopped and decided to do a drop which blocked the road. Recognising that traffic was backing up to the roundabout, a kind bus driver let the cars drive on the wrong side of the road to get past.
ReplyDeleteNow the irony is that active travel isn't supposed to be just for cyclists but to promote public transport.
Bet there are some clowns in the council patting themselves on the back thinking a job well done.
We deeply resent these hurtful comments about our colleagues in Planning, Bozo, Grock, Chuckles, Coco and Pennywise.
ReplyDeleteHaving now travelled down Broom Lane/Wellgate, My question is. Is that it? Why has that work taken so long and cost so much? I'm sorry someone or something is on the make here. When will we scrutinize RMBC and the money they spend via South Yorkshire mayoral?
ReplyDeleteThere should be a public enquiry.
DeleteTea breaks soon eat into the working day.
ReplyDeleteI can't see what all the fuss is about. Slowing down irresponsible drivers, trying to encourage cycling and reducing harmful emissions are surely laudable aims aren't they?
ReplyDeleteUsed the cycle lanes for first time yesterday and never felt so safe. Thank you Rotherham Council.
ReplyDeleteThis is a magnificent and imaginative initiative from a vibrant, forward thinking and proactive department. My husband and his colleagues in Planning should be given a raise, not ridiculed by a bunch of morons.
DeleteBut where is the enforcement? Have just seen a Land River park on cycle lane to drop off 2 kids for school and dump an old fridge and a mattress
ReplyDeleteThe irony is that despite the fortune that has been spent on the lanes cyclists are not obliged to use them
ReplyDeleteIf they feel safer driving near the centre of the road there is nothing to stop them.
Wish they would put a cycle lane straight through the middle of the Tanyard.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing imaginative about this scheme seems to be the costs involved! How does making it difficult for buses to travel up and Wellgate improve "sustainable travel"?
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't leave a bike in the town centre, and judging by the empty cycle bays that are pretty much empty at all times of day and night, I don't think I'm alone.
No scrutiny, no meaningful consultation. Genuine concerns from residents ignored and now the road is quite frankly dangerous. After having two near misses in as many days, I'm avoiding Wellgate whenever I can.
RMBC needs to be doing everything in its powers to encourage footfall into the town centre, not making it more difficult.
If your husband's aim was to shut down the town centre, to enable the Council to get its dirty little paws on a bit of public money to squander on something that wasn't needed or necessary, then I'd consider it to be a job well done.
Something needs to change in Rotherham and it needs to happen fast!
There has been a significant improvement in safety levels in Wellgate over the past few days. Maybe this coincides with you using alternative routes
DeleteI wonder if the person that's so proud of their husband would be so welcoming of the scheme if hubby wasn't suckling from the Council teat?
ReplyDeleteIt's a badly designed scheme which has created more problems by attempting to solve a supposed issue that didn't exist.
I don't know who's teat my husband is suckling from but it's certainly not the Council's
DeleteWell it's not mine
ReplyDeleteYou can't have too many cycle lanes
ReplyDeleteThe more I travel these routes the more I think that cycle lanes are the best thing the Council has done. More please.
ReplyDeleteThey are the future for any country hoping to have carbon neutral sustainable transport and nice shiny painted lanes
Delete