Key to the successful role of the Bee Network Cycling Route in Trafford, which runs from the Trafford Bar Metrolink stop to the heart of Stretford, was the upgrading of three major junctions along Talbot Road. The need to provide safe continuous cycling routes across these junctions, whilst balancing the needs of pedestrians, cyclists and motorists was a principal challenge for the project.
The work forms part of Trafford Council’s plan for a North Active Travel Corridor offering residents, commuters and visitors alike the option to ditch the car and travel in a sustainable way. This is in line with Trafford Council’s ambitious Walking, Cycling and Wheeling Strategy, which aims to allow 90% of all journeys under one mile to be made on foot, bike or using wheeled transport.
Talbot Road is extremely busy and splits Trafford along the centre making it unavoidable for local cyclists but without protection few want to risk it. The three junction improvements provided the creation of a safe continuous cycling and walking link through the centre of Trafford opening the area up for active travel, improving safety and taking cars off the road.
This was the first project Trafford Council had undertaken with the Mayors Challenge Fund, and there were exceptionally sensitive locations involved. The client was unfamiliar with a truly collaborative approach and repeatedly expressed surprise at the level of support and flexibility we provided during pre-construction discussions. From multi-phase traffic management, including detailed proposals, to the identification of cost-saving opportunities such as remodelling levels to significantly reduce regulating costs, our approach was comprehensive.
During construction, several challenges and obstacles arose, particularly concerning the existing services. Despite thorough service details and planned diversions, numerous unexpected and shallow services were encountered during excavation. This led to delays as the team had to negotiate how to safely construct over these shallow services and modify designs where lowering or diverting them was not feasible.
Managing traffic presented another significant challenge due to the project's location on busy roads with complex four-way junctions. Maintaining traffic flow was critical and required careful planning and coordination. On Chester Road, the team implemented road closures for surfacing work exclusively at night to minimise disruption. At all other times, the junctions remained open to traffic.
Managing pedestrian safety, along with cyclists and electric scooter users, added additional difficulties due to high foot traffic in the area. Ensuring users adhered to designated diversion routes proved challenging, necessitating the implementation of extra procedures and safety measures. The busy site demanded constant vigilance to ensure safe passage for all non-motorised users.
Further complications emerged during the work on Chester Road and Great Stone Road, where a reinforced concrete slab in the top layer of the carriageway was found. The process of breaking out this slab for drainage and kerb installation took three times longer than initially anticipated. This unexpected delay required the project team to reallocate resources and extend the timeline for these specific tasks, further complicating the overall schedule.
The proximity of the work sites to Old Trafford’s cricket and football grounds also added a layer of complexity to the project. During events and concerts, the area experienced high peak traffic flows, requiring careful planning and adjustments to programme, to avoid congestion. This often meant pausing or altering construction activities during peak times to ensure continuous traffic flow.
Close collaboration with TfGM and key stakeholders was crucial to keeping the project on track. Regular communication ensured alignment and efficient progress.
Directly engaging with their Communications Team and Social Value Coordinator helped establish positive lines of communication from the outset. Monthly newsletter updates were published to provide residents and businesses with the latest information on the project's progress and any upcoming works that might affect them. In addition, letter drops were conducted.
Our social value contributions equated to an additional 30% of the final contract value, which was given back to the community, making a meaningful impact. This was recorded through the Social Value Portal, which also reached out to us to showcase our work as a case study of good practice. Some of our initiatives included:
- Our team visited the Little Green Sock Project, who provide help to local children living in poverty.
- Our Graduate Quantity Surveyor, Kevin Blackman, attended numerous school events initiated by Our Futures, which aimed to inspire students about the importance of business concepts and prepare them for future job interviews.
- Volunteering with Stretford in Bloom, where our team prepared community spaces and created planting areas to bring vibrant greenery to the streets of Stretford.
- At Stretford Public Hall, we removed some parking spaces, increased cycle parking, and created new SUDS/planted areas with tree planting to transform the space into a more multifunctional outdoor area for events. We also used this project as a training exercise for our apprentices, further enhancing the experience.
- At Blessed St. Thomas School, we made disability access adaptations, including ramps and door access improvements, to better support wheelchair users, including pupils.
Leaders from Trafford Council were recently joined by officers from South Yorkshire Combined Authority and active travel officers from across Greater Manchester to celebrate the opening of the junctions. The group were completing a cycle route from Manchester via Trafford and Salford, to learn more about the active travel schemes in the area.
The scheme received positive feedback from local councillors and TfGM. Our collaboration with Amey and Trafford Council was highly successful, especially for a first project together. Strong communication and a solid working relationship ensured efficient, cost-effective completion and quick issue resolution.
