Work on the first phase of a new £13.4m cycling and walking route from Manchester city centre to Chorlton is set to start later this year.

And it will feature the first specialist cycling junction of its kind in the UK.

So-called 'cyclops' junctions are orbital cycle routes which separate cyclists from traffic around busy junctions and give pedestrians more space.

The council said a cyclops junction would be built at the junction of Royce Road and Chorlton Road in Hulme as it confirmed work on the Chester Road to Stretford Road section of the route would start before the end of the year.

But following a period of public consultation, a series of changes to the wider, original plans have been made, with other ideas due to be looked at again.

Described as one of the country's most ambitious cycling and walking projects, the Manchester to Chorlton scheme is part of cycling tsar Chris Boardman's £1.5 billion vision to create a network across Greater Manchester.

(Image: Manchester city council)

Running along Barlow Moor Road, Manchester Road, Upper Chorlton Road and Chorlton Road, the new 5km route is split into four phases. Cyclists and pedestrians would be given priority over cars in key areas like Four Banks and Barlow Moor Road.

Council bosses said a series of 'engagement events' would be held for residents and businesses prior to work starting on the first phase from Chester Road to Stretford Road.

The Stretford Road to Seymour Grove section will now be progressed to a 'detailed design stage', with the Brooks Bar junction design being subject to a review of its potential impact on the local road network in line with comments received in the consultation, the council said.

Plans for the sections of the route stretching from Seymour Grove to Hardy Lane will also be reviewed.

Work on that part is provisionally due to start in the summer of 2020, the council said.

The consultation saw leaflets distributed to 2,350 properties along the routes with 1,600 more handed out or dropped off at libraries and businesses.

(Image: Manchester city council)

Following concerns raised, Copenhagen-style bus stops will now not be used - a layout involving a cycleway running behind the passenger boarding area at a bus stop, between an island and the footway.

Instead, the council said it would look to provide bus stop by-passes similar to those already in use on Oxford Road and Wilmslow Road.

Proposed one-way streets at Ollerton Avenue and Ashley Avenue have been removed from the plans.

The council said it would also look at the impact on parking along the route and identify potential parking mitigation measures.

Councillor Angeliki Stogia called the response to the consultation 'huge'.

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The council's executive member for the environment, planning and transport added: "This is clearly a project that people want to see and which will support the city’s plan to become carbon neutral by 2038 at the latest.

"Work will now proceed on the first phase of the scheme, which will include a new cyclops junction.

(Image: MEN)

"And having listened to what local residents and businesses have had to say, there are parts of the original scheme which we will now revisit, in order to ensure that this is a route which works for the whole community."

Olympian Chris Boardman, Greater Manchester's walking and cycling commissioner, said: "I'm thrilled that the first phase of works will begin before Christmas.

"Royce Road will be the first junction if its kind in the UK to use an orbital cycle route that separates cyclists from motor traffic, making it safer for all users.

"Chorlton to Manchester has the potential to be a world-leading cycling and walking route and I know that when complete it will be transformational, enabling thousands more people to leave their cars at home."

Councillor Steve Adshead, Trafford council's executive member for environment, air quality and climate change, added: "This a very exciting project and one that people are obviously in support of.

"The health and wellbeing of residents is of huge importance to Trafford council and I would welcome any scheme that encourages more active activity like walking and cycling."

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