Work starting on final piece of cycleway puzzle

Jun 25 2009 by Laurie Stocks-Moore, Chester Chronicle

THE wheels will be put in motion on a new cycle link this week.

Construction on the two-mile bridge and path link from Mickle Trafford and Guilden Sutton to the Millennium Greenway will start on Monday.

By the time it is finished in October, there will be a virtually traffic-free link for cyclists and walkers from Chester to North Wales.

The 16-week scheme is being funded by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) as part of Revive – the project which aims to reclaim 170 hectares of brownfield land in Cheshire and Warrington.

The cycleway is part of Sustrans Connect2 project, funded by the Big Lottery Fund, to create 79 walking and cycling networks across the UK.

It has been designed by Cheshire West and Chester Council.

The route includes a new pedestrian bridge over the Chester to Manchester railway line and a series of links and access points. These will be situated in Fairfield Road, Mannings Lane (South), the A41 at Greenfield Lane, at Guilden Sutton and Station Lane, Mickle Trafford.

“This long-awaited scheme joining Guilden Sutton and Mickle Trafford is excellent news for local people who I am sure will make good use of these new link – ups,” said Cheshire West and Chester environment executive member Neil Ritchie.

“People will soon be able to reach the centre of Chester from these two villages by a car– free route.”

Aftercare maintenance for the project will be provided for 15 years through the environmental charity Sustrans, which will also manage the route.

Peter Foster, regional director for Sustrans, said: “In this era of rising concerns about the health of individuals and the environment, enabling more journeys to be made by foot and by bike can only benefit our community.”