Cycle route plan for Chester City Centre
23 July 2021
Plans for a new cycle route through the centre of Chester are about to be unveiled by Cheshire West and Chester Council.
The new route will run along St Martin's Way in the city centre, from the Grosvenor roundabout to the City Walls roundabout.
As part of Chester's new Northgate development and the Clockwise traffic management system, highways engineers have removed the central barrier that runs along the middle of St Martin's Way.
The £72m Northgate project includes a new indoor market, a six-screen cinema, cafes, restaurants and officer space. It is expected to be completed in 2022.
The one-way Clockwise traffic management system through the city centre has been implemented to support the development and the installation of a new drainage tunnel.
The new cycle lane will be part of Cheshire West and Chester Council's ongoing Active Travel initiative. This aims to encourage more residents to choose greener forms of transport such as cycling over the car.
The plan is to make the borough's towns and city centre accessible for everyone and support the Council's Climate Emergency pledges.
Council planners have consulted with local residents and sustainable transport groups over the proposed new cycleway.
Cheshire West and Chester Council's Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Inclusive Economy said: "The Northgate development is a once in a generation opportunity to create an exciting and dynamic shopping and leisure attraction for Chester City Centre.
"We want as many people as possible to be able to access the new development. We also need to reduce traffic congestion on our roads, which will contribute to cleaning the air and reducing CO2 emissions."
"The ongoing roadworks in Chester City Centre allowed us to look at the central reservation on St Martin's Way to create the new cycleway."
"We will be publishing more detailed plans soon, which we will share with residents and other road users."
For more information on Active Travel in Cheshire West and Chester, visit: https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/residents/transport-and-roads/highways/major-road-schemes/active-travel/active-travel.aspx
