Lancashire Council has released a GoPro video of the now finished Penwortham Brow section of the Preston cycle superhighway.
AdvertisementIn the video, Lancashire County Council has shown the full extent of the route, which will see one-way traffic restrictions on Kingsway, a safely-designed segregated cycle track, a parallel crossing on a road hump and a central refuge island for safer crossing.
The council revised plans to retain the two-way traffic flow on the route following a public consultation last summer that responded to public concerns.
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The council are improving two sections of the Liverpool Road/Fishergate Hill corridor between Penwortham and the city centre, with the second located at Broadgate junction and Fishergate Hill.
At this junction, the council have proposed a new Cycle Optimised Protected Signals (CYCLOPS) junction and recently held a public engagement event to receive feedback to consider the needs of residents and businesses.
The junction is a key part of the superhighway and forms part of the Preston Guild Wheel route.
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Pedestrians and cyclists currently have no option but to cross the traffic, leading to conflict with vehicles and creating a barrier to active travel.
The council said it wants to provide safety improvements in this location that encourage people to leave the car at home and create health and environmental benefits.
CYCLOPS is a unique junction type that separates pedestrians and cyclists from motorised traffic, reducing the risk of collisions or conflict.
Transport for Greater Manchester first developed the award-winning concept, with the Preston junction the first in Lancashire and amongst the first delivered in the UK.
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Design features and benefits:
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The council said it appreciates that some users may have concerns about the new junction, particularly the blind or partially sighted.
As part of its engagement process, the council will undertake an Equality Impact Assessment, consulting with sight loss charities and speaking to the local community to consider the needs of all users in the design.
For more information, visit – https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/roads-parking-and-travel/active-travel.
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What are your thoughts on the new route? Let us know in the comments below.