News: Why are new cycle lanes being created across Rotherham?

If Rotherham Council wants to use government money to make multimillion pound investments in strategic transport routes in the borough, they will need to include cycle lanes, the authority has confirmed.

With Rotherham Council set to spend a further £24m on active travel schemes, the issue was raised in a recent full council meeting.

Consultation is currently being carried out on a £16.3m scheme that includes bike lanes, bus lanes and a built up roundabout at Eastwood, on the edge of Rotherham town centre. A similar £8m cycle lane and roundabout scheme is proposed for Stag Roundabout and Wickersley / Broom Road.

The schemes follow on from the the £6.4m Sheffield Road Cycleways and Maltby Bus Corridor schemes and the £3.6m Broom Road Cycleways scheme.

Sheffield Road Cycleways project has delivered over 2km of new cycle routes on the A6178 Sheffield Road and Westgate between the town centre and the borough boundary at Tinsley. Rothbiz reported how Rotherham Council was forced to explain the new road layout on Sheffield Road, which has introduced a single carriagway with cycle lanes that are not mandatory and instead indicate to drivers the distance they should leave when passing cyclists.

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The majority of funding is coming from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) through the City Regional Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS), a government funding stream. The funding requirements dictate that designs must promote decarbonisation by providing improved options for public transport, walking and cycling although Rotherham Council has earmarked funding for ideas proposed by the community for addressing isues in the neighbourhoods.

Cllr. John Williams, Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs and the Local Economy, told the meeting: "Any decision on funding is ultimately a decision for the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and the Department for Transport.

"If we only delivered the neighbourhood streets element of the scheme then potentially that would not be meeting the government's requirements for the funding. I should be clear that that requirement was set by the previous government and that requirement is to deliver a strategic route to enable people to walk, to cycle more and to help improve the speed and reliability of buses, to help people get about the borough.

"It is most likely, therefore, that if we to only do the scheme without the cycle lanes then it wouldn't be meeting that requirement"

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News: £26m allocated for new Rotherham cycle schemes

The latest schemes aimed at improving options for public transport, walking, wheeling and cycling in Rotherham will cost around £26m, according to the latest update from transport bosses at Rotherham Council.

Consultation for a scheme in the Eastwood area began in October with the proposals for the installation of new bus lanes and cycle lanes to create a sustainable transport corridor incorporating Fitzwilliam Road and St Ann's Roundabout.

Last month, consultation began on a similar scheme for the Moorgate and Broom area which is also set to address issues at Stag roundabout.

Matthew Reynolds, Head of Transportation Infrastructure Service at Rotherham Council, recently updated elected members on the new projects, saying that £16m had been allocated for the Eastwood scheme and around £10m allocated for the Moorgate and Broom Network Improvements.

The funding is coming from the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements (CRSTS), £570m from the government to the region to bring significant improvements to South Yorkshire’s transport system.

For the Eastwood scheme, the biggest change proposed is for St Ann's Roundabout, where the council is proposing to bring the crossings up to ground level and fill in the subways to make the space feel more welcoming. For Fitzwilliam Road the plan is to provide bus priority and separate cycleways.

A bus lane in the Rotherham-bound direction would make bus services faster and more reliable and the bus lane at Mushroom roundabout would be extended to Chesterton Road. Painted cycle lanes are set to be replaced with dedicated cycle tracks to separate cyclists from motor traffic and improve safety and new designated parking spaces are also included.

£4.6m has been set aside for additional ideas proposed by the community for improvements in the neighbourhoods - streetlighting, road resurfacing, new crossings, addressing parking issues around the local schools.

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The Broom Road / Wickersley Corridor Sustainable Transport Scheme includes work at Stag roundabout, sustainable travel measures on Wickersley Road, the extension of the recently completed Broom Road cycleway, and an Active Travel Scheme in the Moorgate area.

A segregated footway and cycle route is planned from the existing scheme at Clifton Roundabout, through to Brecks roundabout.

Matthew Reynolds explained that the cycle scheme at Eastwood was a very difficult scheme. He said: "It is probably going to be more difficult to deliver than any other scheme we have on the books at the moment."

The council confirmed that there are issues at St Ann's Roundabout such as the subways and for bus operators. There are also some "considerable implications" in the area such as utilities in the middle of the roundabout and that run down Fitzwilliam Road. Flooding and disruption during the works were also being taken into account.

Reynolds added: "We are working really closely with the community, as much as we can, to understand what the concerns are and how we can improve the project. We are at the absolute first stage of feasability - there is plenty of time to shape it and plenty of time to work with people. Ultimately, we want to do that because we want something that everybody understands and buys into, and can see the bigger picture as to why we are doing these kind of schemes."

The funding deadline for the £16m project is March 2027 and Galliford Try Construction Ltd is working on the scheme.

For the other scheme, Reynolds discussed the issues with the zebra crossings at the Stag roundabout adding that: "It is an opportunity to bring improvements to the Stag - we can do some public realm work for example, bring some planting and greening, benches - that neighbourhood focus on the shops and amenities that are there."

The completion deadline in the current programme for the £10m project is January 2027. Esh Councstruction has signed up to deliver the scheme.

Reynolds added: "Again we are at the very early stages of consultation and engagement so we want to hear everyone's views on this."

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News: Rotherham Council starts consultation on new £8m active travel scheme

Local residents and road users can have their say on Rotherham Council's proposals for the Moorgate and Broom area.

The £8m scheme is also set to address issues at Stag roundabout.

Consultation for a similar £12m scheme in the Eastwood area began last month after Rothbiz revealed that the hope is for bus lanes and cycle lanes to create a sustainable transport corridor incorporating Fitzwilliam Road and St Ann's Roundabout.

The Broom Road / Wickersley Corridor Sustainable Transport Scheme includes work at Stag roundabout, sustainable travel measures on Wickersley Road, the extension of the recently completed Broom Road cycleway, and an Active Travel Scheme in the Moorgate area.

Consultation documents confirm proposals for separate cycleways and bus priority measures on Broom Road and Wickersley Road between Clifton Roundabout and East Bawtry Road, as well as improvements to crossings and junctions. The council say that this will make bus journeys quicker and more reliable, make walking safer and provide a safe route for those cycling.

A segregated footway and cycle route is planned throughout from the existing scheme to Brecks roundabout.

The segregated routes will continue through Stag roundabout where signalised crossing points will be introduced and design alignment should promote a reduction in vehicle speeds.

The consultation states: "We are responding to requests for new controlled crossing facilities on each arm of the roundabout. to make it easier for pedestrians to cross this roundabout. We will also provide a new cycle route around the roundabout."

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The council is also looking to introduce solutions identified by the community that have raised issues such as traffic levels, speeds and on-street parking in areas.

Funding is comimg from the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) and the authority added that: "to deliver the scheme we must meet the requirements set out in the funding to improve safe and accessible walking, wheeling, cycling and public transport access."

Rothbiz reported in September that Esh Councstruction has signed up to deliver the scheme.

Cllr. Taiba Yasseen raised the issue of active travel schemes at a recent full council meeting. The ward member for Boston Castle said that there was "no evidence of benefit — particularly in deprived areas that bear the disruption and negative impact while gaining no advantage."

Yasseen added that the claims made by the council of a modal shift (road users switching from using the car) were "a myth" and called on the council to "stop imposing infrastructure onto the most deprived communities without working with them."

In reply, Cllr. Robert Taylor, Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs and the Local Economy, said: "I am going to disagree with you and say that you are wrong. There are national studies in places where schemes were far more embedded than in Rotherham that showed this. It was not fair to judge Wellgate for example that had not up and running for 12 months.

"There was an extensive consultation process and the communities were being engaged with. The fact that residents are coming to meetings and asking questions showed that information was getting through.

"Nothing is being imposed, we are talking about potential infrastructure changes. I urge members and residents to get involved with the consultation."

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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.

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News: £3.6m Rotherham transport scheme progresses

Rotherham Council is urging people to continue to use the local businesses in an area of town where the creation of new active travel schemes is causing disruption.

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.

During works, which began in April, there will be traffic management closures on Broom Road for approximately 25 weeks, Wellgate for approximately 25 weeks and Clifton Roundabout for approximately 14 weeks.

Esh Construction secured the contract for the works.

Cllr. Dominic Beck, Cabinet Member for Transport and the Environment at Rotherham Council, said: "We are delivering a significant investment of £3.6m to improve accessibility to Rotherham town centre.

"We do have a one-way system in operation on Wellgate at the moment to ensure that we can keep the workers safe who are delivering this scheme but our message is quite clear from the council - local businesses are still open and you can still get to these local businesses.

"We do have very short, effective diversions in place, Wellgate multi-storey [car park] is still open, and the small car park next to the multi-storey, and so we want people to continue to come to the town centre to use and support these local businesses."

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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.

Clifton Roundabout, along with its approaches, is being 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 proposals mean that the current bus lane on Broom Road would end before the roundabout where two lanes will 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.

Clrr. Beck added: "One aspect of the scheme is that, once delivered, and part of other schemes already being delivered or in development, is that there will be a continuous cycle route all the way from Sheffield, into Rotherham town centre, and out to Wickersley as well, to help create a really safe environment for people to come and go from the town centre, either by cycling, walking or indeed if you are a motorist.

"We are going to have improved signalised junctions, there'll be improved crossing spaces for pedestrians, and in the end, everyone will benefit from this scheme.

"Whilst we do have these short term disruptions in place around the one-ways and diversions, please use them ... and continue to use local businesses."

£8.6m of funding has also been secured by the council from the SYMCA for the £9.74m Sheffield Road Cycleways scheme which aims to support affordable and environmentally friendly travel with new segregated cycle tracks extending the existing route from the Sheffield boundary near to the Magna Science Adventure Centre at Templeborough, through to Rotherham town centre.

With Westgate set to incorporate 2 metre-wide advisory cycle lanes on either side with a single carriageway down the middle, construction will take place in two phases, starting in the spring and expected to last for 15 months.

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News: Work continues on £13m travel schemes in Rotherham

Work is now underway on an active travel scheme on the edge of Rotherham town centre, with funding confirmed for another to make it easier to walk and cycle from Sheffield.

At Wellgate and Broom Road a £3.6m scheme sees Rotherham Council introduce 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.

The funding 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). 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.

Clifton Roundabout, along with its approaches, will be 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 proposals mean that the current bus lane on Broom Road would end before the roundabout where two lanes will 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.

Esh Construction secured a £1.9m tender related to the scheme in February.

During works there will be traffic management closures on Broom Road for approximately 25 weeks, Wellgate for approximately 25 weeks and Clifton Roundabout for approximately 14 weeks.

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£8.6m of funding has also been secured by the council from South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority for the £9.74m Sheffield Road Cycleways scheme which aims to support affordable and environmentally friendly travel with new segregated cycle tracks extending the existing route from the Sheffield boundary near to the Magna Science Adventure Centre at Templeborough, through to Rotherham Town Centre.

Original proposals for the third phase have been change after they "received significant local opposition." Plans to close the junction of Centenary Way onto Main Street to private vehicles have been dropped, as has the proposed “no left turn” restriction from Westgate onto Main Street, and other changes to junctions with Canklow Road and Old Sheffield Road, and restrictions to vehicles on Coke Hill and Wilfred Street.

These changes, agreed with Active Travel England, follow new data showing the need for traffic reduction was not as originally thought, and address the main concerns of local traders.

The revised plans are also expected to increase the number of parking bays along Sheffield Road and Westgate above the current level of provision.

A new 20 mph limit will be implemented along Westgate to help to make the stretch between new housing developments and the town centre more attractive to pedestrians and cyclists.

Approximately 400 metres of Westgate leading to the junction with Main Street will incorporate 2 metre-wide advisory cycle lanes on either side with a single carriageway down the middle (as used in the Sheffield scheme pictured). This will provide space for motor vehicles to pass using the full width of the road when required whilst indicating to drivers the distance with which they should pass cyclists. The layout follows similar schemes already successfully implemented across the country, in Hull, Sheffield, East Yorkshire, Norwich and London.

Rotherham Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport and the Environment, Cllr Dominic Beck, said: “We listened to residents and business feedback and have made substantial changes to the original proposals for this stretch of cycle route. This proposal means a minimal impact on motorists, while still meeting the need to ensure that the new housing developments along Sheffield Road are not entirely dependent on cars for travel, and putting the government’s funding for cycle routes to good use.”

“Completing the latest phases of Sheffield Road Cycleways will be a great achievement as it provides a safe and pleasant cycling environment and connects developing communities along the route, reducing air pollution, congestion and supporting healthy lifestyles.”

Monies for the scheme were secured by Rotherham Council and the South Yorkshire Mayor Combined Authority from the Government’s Transforming Cities Fund. Construction will take place in two phases, starting in the spring and expected to last for 15 months.

The council said that it wants to extend the Meadowhall to Broom route as more funding becomes available in the future.

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News: £3.6m grant for Rotherham cycle scheme

A council cycle scheme in Rotherham has been granted £3.6m even though it is expected to make queues longer at a roundabout on the edge of the town centre, and has a poor benefit–cost ratio.

Funding is being sought via the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) for improvements on Wellgate, Broom Road and Broom Valley Road to provide better conditions for cyclists, and pedestrians, travelling between the south east of the town and central Rotherham (including its onward rail and bus services).

This week, the SYMCA board approved a grant of £3.6m from various government pots to fund 660 metres of unidirectional cycleways on Wellgate and Broom Road. 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. The work on Broom Valley Road does not yet have funding.

The proposals, which went out for consultation in 2021, are considered to be the most deliverable and acceptable means of achieving safe conditions for cycling and meeting key strategic policy objectives.

The consultation showed new one-way cycle tracks on each side of Wellgate between Hollowgate and Clifton Roundabout and some parking spaces and a redundant loading bay would be removed.

Clifton Roundabout, along with its approaches, will be 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 proposals mean that the current bus lane on Broom Road would end before the roundabout where two lanes will merge into one (at around Broom Terrace), 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.

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A report to the SYMCA board states: "There are disbenefits to car users specifically at the Clifton Roundabout caused by increased congestion due to reduced carriageway available for general traffic. Modelling has been undertaken to consider the potential impact, which was a requirement of the outline business case (OBC) approval. It has been concluded that additional journey time (a mean delay of 17.3 seconds to a driver’s overall journey time) and increased vehicle operating costs (PV of these over 60 years = £0.679m) will be imposed on the road users, as well as environmental costs on adjacent residents.

"It is noted that the impacts are expected and part of the Strategic approach and policy decision to enhance opportunities for cycling, and that the bus priority improvements on the A631 corridor proposed under Transforming Cities is expected to bring about a modal shift from car to bus, which may have impact on demand at this point. It is also noted that the forecast uplift in cycling will have a negligible, although positive impact on network performance."

The benefit–cost ratio (BCR), which assesses a project's value for money, was deemed as being "poor even if highway disbenefits are ignored" but the grant was approved as: "arguably (with evidence), some “sticks” as well as “carrots” are necessary to encourage more active travel."

In addition £2.3m has been set aside from Transforming Cities Fund Programme for the A631 Rotherham to Maltby bus corridor and more cycleways are proposed for the Broom area using another £1.5m from the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements (CRSTS).

The council said that there had been over 100 responses received during the consultation covering Clifton roundabout and the predominant view was in favour of the scheme. Approximately 16,000 people travel in or out of Rotherham town centre via Wellgate in a typical weekday, per the SYPTE annual cordon count for 2019. Of these, around 17% arrive by non-motorised means (i.e. walking or cycling). In 2019 the number of cyclists was low, making up around 0.5% of passenger traffic.

Opponents had called for the use of cycleways through Herringthorpe playing fields instead of on the highway.

Cllr. Dominic Beck, Cabinet Member for Transport and the Environment at Rotherham Council, said: "The Council has been keen over the last few years, where Government funding has come along, to create safe spaces for cyclists, particularly in and around the town centre. This Council has wanted to embrace those opportunities, and this was the case for Broom Road. The Council did understand residents’ viewpoints and they have purposefully sought to take onboard the views of all residents as the work has been undertaken."

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Meanwhile, a scheme to connect the cycle route created through Templeborough to the town centre is under review.

Phase three of the scheme went out for consultation last year and included new traffic management measures to deter people driving through the town centre.

An update to the council states that "scheme design was revised following feedback from the public consultation. The revised approach has been discussed with Active Travel England (ATE), the recently introduced advisory body for active travel, and received positive endorsement. The Council is engaging local residents and businesses on the revised proposals in late 2022 with a view to submitting a revised scheme to South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) in early 2023 for completion in early 2024."

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