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₤1.1 million Junction
improvements scheme welcomed by Chester Cycling Campaign
DRIVERS, cyclists and pedestrians are
set to benefit from a ₤1.1 million scheme to improve safety at a busy Junction,
near Ellesmere Port, Wirral, Merseyside.
The Highways England project at 2 Mills, where the A550 meets the A540, is due
to start on Monday, 17 July 2017. A new 320 metre cycle path will be created
through the Junction, with traffic lights and toucan crossings making it easier
to cross the A550.
The right turn lanes onto the A540 from the A550 will also be improved and a new
high friction road surface will be laid to reduce the risk of collisions, at the
Junction.
The A540, which runs between Chester and Hoylake, is popular with cyclists and
group rides set off from a cyclists' cafe near the 2 Mills Junction during most
weekends throughout the year.
Phil Tyrrell, the Project Manager at Highways England, said:- "We're
committed to significantly improving safety across our road network, and the new
cycle path, as well as the wider and longer right turn lanes, will make it much
easier and safer for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians to cross the Junction. We
will do everything we can to keep disruption to a minimum while the work is
taking place, and look forward to seeing the new cycle path open in time for the
spring."
The new cycle path, which will be shared by cyclists and pedestrians, will run
along the Southbound A540. The route will cross 2 new islands on the A550 at the
2 Mills Junction before continuing along the A540.
2 crossings will also be created at either end of the cycle path for people
travelling in the opposite direction. The bus stop on the A540 will be moved to
the opposite side of the Junction to allow space for the new cycle path.
Peter Williams from Neston is a member of the Chester Cycling Campaign, which
campaigns for new and improved cycle routes. He said:- "We're really
pleased to see this scheme taking place as the Junction is used by lots of
cyclists every week; either commuting to work or for leisure. I tend to meet up
with members of the Chester and North Wales Cyclists' Touring Club twice a week
at the Eureka cyclists' café near the Junction before we set off on a ride. You
have to be really careful when you cross the Junction at the moment and a few
people I know have had their bikes clipped by drivers who haven't seen them, so
the new cycle path will definitely make it safer."
Most of the work will be carried out overnight, between 8pm and 5am, with some
work also taking place at weekends. A series of overnight lane or road closures
will be in place on most nights, with clearly signed diversions. The scheme is
due to be completed by spring 2018.
The cycling project at the 2 Mills Junction is 1 of 200 cycling schemes taking
place across England up until 2021 paid for by a ₤100 million government fund
for cycling. The schemes are designed to make it easier for cyclists to cross
Motorway Junctions and use major A roads.
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