News: Contractor celebrates completion of Rotherham cycle scheme
Esh Construction has completed the first of three key active travel projects in Rotherham that are designed to make it safer and more convenient for pedestrians and cyclists to travel into and around the town centre.
A £3.6m project on Wellgate and Broom Road – on behalf of Rotherham Council – has delivered 1,600 metres of dedicated cycle tracks, along with signal-controlled crossings and associated junction improvements. An online roundabout on a busy commuter route was upgraded, incorporating the new cycle lanes to provide a safer solution for cyclists and those using mobility scooters in accessing the town centre.
Esh’s Divisional Director, Steven Garrigan, said: “This type of project requires extensive logistical planning while working across online travel networks and commuter routes, therefore we are pleased to bring the first of three active travel schemes to completion.
“At Esh, we pride ourselves on building and maintaining strong working relationships with our clients and through our work with Rotherham Council we are building on an extensive portfolio of experience, while supporting the active travel targets outlined by South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.”
Funding for the scheme was secured by the Council through the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority Active Travel Fund (ATF), Gainshare and the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS).
Rothbiz revealed when the scheme was proposed in 2021 that it would reduce the capacity of Clifton roundabout, making queuing longer at busy times. Further work is now being carried out on extending the scheme along Broom Road to the Stag roundabout, and on possible schemes in the adjacent areas.
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Matthew Reynolds, Head of Transportation Infrastructure Service at Rotherham Council, recently updated councillors on the completed scheme. He said: "It looks impressive. From our expectation it is functioning how we want it to do.
"We need to be mindful of the messaging around the scheme. It is a cycle scheme, but actually, what we are seeing here is a much safer use of this roundabout. Before you could go round the roundabout without having to brake - "flythroughs" on a very fast roundabout with people not driving appropriately. The new kerbing makes people slow down, assess and look around the junction, before they make the turns. And that, from what I have seen, has been very good in terms of its compliance and getting people to drive a lot more safely.
"To be honest, it would be good to have few cyclists on there, and we'll get there in time I think, once we build the network, but it is a good piece of infrastructure."
To the west of Wellgate and Broom Road, two further active travel projects being delivered by Esh are nearing completion. Known as Sheffield Road Cycleways and Maltby Bus Corridor, the schemes are expected to be finished later this year, providing Rotherham’s residents with more opportunities to undertake journeys by bus, walking, and cycling in line with the active travel initiative.
The Sheffield Road Cycleways project will connect Sheffield and Rotherham, with over 2km of new cycle routes being introduced on the A6178 Sheffield Road at Templeborough and Westgate between the town centre and the borough boundary at Tinsley. Over time and alongside other investments the route will provide a nearly seamless connection for cycling from beyond Meadowhall through to the Broom area.
It is due to complete in July 2024.
Maltby Bus Corridor will feature 2.8km of new bus lanes and new signalised junctions with pedestrian crossings along the 8-mile route from Rotherham to Maltby. The bus corridor will bypass areas of congestion on the A631 route into the town centre and enable faster and more reliable services, particularly those linking Maltby to Rotherham and onwards to Sheffield city centre, Magna and Meadowhall.
It is due to be completed in April 2024.
Funding for the Sheffield Road Cycleways project and the Maltby Bus Corridor was secured via the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority with monies from the Government’s Transforming Cities Fund.
Esh Group website
Images: Esh
A £3.6m project on Wellgate and Broom Road – on behalf of Rotherham Council – has delivered 1,600 metres of dedicated cycle tracks, along with signal-controlled crossings and associated junction improvements. An online roundabout on a busy commuter route was upgraded, incorporating the new cycle lanes to provide a safer solution for cyclists and those using mobility scooters in accessing the town centre.
Esh’s Divisional Director, Steven Garrigan, said: “This type of project requires extensive logistical planning while working across online travel networks and commuter routes, therefore we are pleased to bring the first of three active travel schemes to completion.
“At Esh, we pride ourselves on building and maintaining strong working relationships with our clients and through our work with Rotherham Council we are building on an extensive portfolio of experience, while supporting the active travel targets outlined by South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.”
Funding for the scheme was secured by the Council through the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority Active Travel Fund (ATF), Gainshare and the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS).
Rothbiz revealed when the scheme was proposed in 2021 that it would reduce the capacity of Clifton roundabout, making queuing longer at busy times. Further work is now being carried out on extending the scheme along Broom Road to the Stag roundabout, and on possible schemes in the adjacent areas.
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Matthew Reynolds, Head of Transportation Infrastructure Service at Rotherham Council, recently updated councillors on the completed scheme. He said: "It looks impressive. From our expectation it is functioning how we want it to do.
"We need to be mindful of the messaging around the scheme. It is a cycle scheme, but actually, what we are seeing here is a much safer use of this roundabout. Before you could go round the roundabout without having to brake - "flythroughs" on a very fast roundabout with people not driving appropriately. The new kerbing makes people slow down, assess and look around the junction, before they make the turns. And that, from what I have seen, has been very good in terms of its compliance and getting people to drive a lot more safely.
"To be honest, it would be good to have few cyclists on there, and we'll get there in time I think, once we build the network, but it is a good piece of infrastructure."
To the west of Wellgate and Broom Road, two further active travel projects being delivered by Esh are nearing completion. Known as Sheffield Road Cycleways and Maltby Bus Corridor, the schemes are expected to be finished later this year, providing Rotherham’s residents with more opportunities to undertake journeys by bus, walking, and cycling in line with the active travel initiative.
The Sheffield Road Cycleways project will connect Sheffield and Rotherham, with over 2km of new cycle routes being introduced on the A6178 Sheffield Road at Templeborough and Westgate between the town centre and the borough boundary at Tinsley. Over time and alongside other investments the route will provide a nearly seamless connection for cycling from beyond Meadowhall through to the Broom area.
It is due to complete in July 2024.
Maltby Bus Corridor will feature 2.8km of new bus lanes and new signalised junctions with pedestrian crossings along the 8-mile route from Rotherham to Maltby. The bus corridor will bypass areas of congestion on the A631 route into the town centre and enable faster and more reliable services, particularly those linking Maltby to Rotherham and onwards to Sheffield city centre, Magna and Meadowhall.
It is due to be completed in April 2024.
Funding for the Sheffield Road Cycleways project and the Maltby Bus Corridor was secured via the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority with monies from the Government’s Transforming Cities Fund.
Esh Group website
Images: Esh
27 comments:
Well it's good to know Matthew Reynolds is happy with it. At least one person should be for all the money it cost and hassle is caused.
He's the first one I've heard of though.
Time to dust off my Covid bike to safely peddle my way to the town centre to buy a new mobile phone, some second hand DVDs and finish off a nice big kebab. Lovely stuff!
I'm very happy with it.
Need to stop people actually parking in it now as there is no enforcement on the wellgate section.
I wonder why it’s not enforced…
On pavement parking is a real problem in many parts of Rotherham. And as you say there is little or no enforcement even when the whole of the pavement is taken up by thoughtless drivers. Mums with pushchairs and wheelchair users are forced to make dangerous detours on the road.
What about Dads with pushchairs?
What about Dads In pushchairs?
Most roads weren't designed with the foresight of how many cars are on the roads now, so if all cars were parked solely on the road and not partially on the pavement then god help you if you ever needed an ambulance or fire truck to turn up to your house.
Also, daily I drive past a house where the inhabitant leaves his mobility scooter on the pavement during the day, even when not in use, blocking it off to mums with pushchairs and wheelchair users, so its not always 'thoughtless drivers'.
This relentless attack on drivers is lazy.
But surely he's a thoughtless mobility scooter driver!
"Fire truck"?
Are you American?
If that guy lived on our street and kept pulling the same stroke he would wake up one morning to find his scooter in a skip.
I agree about the relentless attacks on drivers. Unfortunately it's a case of 90 per cent giving the rest a bad name
Again, what about Dads with pushchairs?
What really worries is if this the completion of phase 1. What carnage will phases 2 & 3 bring? By my calculations £3.6m for 1.6km of a cycle lane that no-one wants, up one of the steepest roads out of Rotherham is absolutely potty!
That's £22.5k per metre. You, dear reader, and I have paid for this through the taxes we all pay. And for what?
No wonder the Council Leader Chris Read, who signed off on this absolute debacle of a project has decided not to stand in Wickersley and move over to the safe council seat of Swinton.
This scheme was, and remains the best example as to how not to squander public since the TV screen debacle in All Saints Square.
FFS RMBC. If you're going to get public money (Which I don't think even the most hardened cynic would object to...at least put it to good use!
I think we would all agree that dads with push chairs should have the same entitlement to care and consideration as mums with pushchairs. As should grandmothers, grandfathers, uncles, aunties, brothers, sisters, friends and carers who may be using pushchairs.
The new cycle lanes are great. All the members of our cycle club feel so much safer in them
I feel the same actually. Can't see why everyone is getting so worked up.
Well I am a keen cyclist and am NOT happy with the lanes. They should have been wider to cater for three wheelers.
Both of you?
Yes, that's us on the tandem
The roundabout is much better now, cars slow down more. whereas previously, some would approach too fast and maintain speed on the roundabout. It is now safer for all road users.
Agreed, though Subaru drivers wont
Total waste of money was put in to keep the environmentalists quiet good old Rotherham 🤡cil for you
You sound like the illegitimate son if Liz Truss
So the environment is not important to you? You would be at home in the County.
They are dangerous the give way gives no vision of the cycle lane coming out of broom terrace you can't see until your in the cycle lane/footpath due to walls at the top of the street. If there is traffic your then stuck across the cycle lane and footpath. I'm all for cycle lanes,it's just not been thought out.
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