New segregated cycle lane and school crossing for this busy Chorley road

A segregated cycleway is set to be created on one of the busiest roads in Chorley, along with a special crossing outside a secondary school on the route.
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The plans for a stretch of the A6 Bolton Road will see a shared pedestrian and cycle path installed on the northbound carriageway, heading towards the town centre and just after the junction with Miles Standish Way.

Lancashire County Council’s cabinet gave the green light to the work on the 40mph road after hearing that it would offer a safer option for cyclists than the existing on-street cycle lane.

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The new path will be at least three metres wide and cabinet papers state that the straightness of the route means that there is good visibility to allow the cycleway to be shared safely with pedestrians. Drop kerbs will provide cyclists with access to the new path.

A6 Bolton Road: the existing town centre-bound cycle lane will be replaced with a segregated cycleway (left) and a toucan crossing will replace the current traffic island outside the Albany Academy (right) [images:  Google Streetview]A6 Bolton Road: the existing town centre-bound cycle lane will be replaced with a segregated cycleway (left) and a toucan crossing will replace the current traffic island outside the Albany Academy (right) [images:  Google Streetview]
A6 Bolton Road: the existing town centre-bound cycle lane will be replaced with a segregated cycleway (left) and a toucan crossing will replace the current traffic island outside the Albany Academy (right) [images: Google Streetview]

As part of the works, a ‘toucan’ crossing will be put in place outside the Albany Academy. The traffic light-controlled facility will replace an existing uncontrolled crossing point which is based around an island in the middle of the road.

A short stretch of shared use cycleway will also be created around the crossing – on both sides of the road – to assist cyclists who want to cross at that point.

It is understood that the Albany has been calling for a replacement crossing outside its gates for several years.

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Cabinet papers revealed that two objections to the proposals were received, outlining concerns that visibility around the new crossing would be restricted by parked cars, which would also hamper access to the cycleway.

However, highways bosses said that zig-zag lines on the approach to the toucan, along with enforcement of single yellow lines in the area, would prevent the problem.

The £155,000 cost of the scheme is being funded by a planning agreement with Arley Homes for a development in the borough.