Work to Start on Major New Cycleways

A map showing the route of the cycleways.
A map showing the route of the cycleways.

Rotherham Council is to start work on a major new travel scheme, making it easier to walk and cycle from Sheffield to Rotherham town centre.

It follows an award of £8.6 million of funding from South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.

The Sheffield Road Cycleways scheme aims to support affordable and environmentally friendly travel with new segregated cycle tracks extending the existing route from the Sheffield City boundary near to the Magna Science Adventure Centre on the A6178 through to Rotherham Town Centre.

The cycle tracks will link through to new cycle lanes and pedestrian improvements on Sheffield Road and Westgate in the town centre.

Over time and alongside other investments the route will provide a nearly seamless connection for cycling from beyond Meadowhall through to the Broom area. 

The scheme will contribute to Rotherham town centre’s regeneration plans including the new Riverside Residential quarter being developed around Westgate.

Following consultation in early 2022, and subsequent further engagement with local businesses in the Westgate area, original proposals for this stretch of the route have undergone a radical transformation. Plans to close the junction of Centenary Way onto Main Street to private vehicles have been dropped, as has the proposed “no left turn” restriction from Westgate onto Main Street, and other changes to junctions with Canklow Road and Old Sheffield Road, and restrictions to vehicles on Coke Hill and Wilfred Street.

These changes, agreed with Active Travel England, follow new data showing the need for traffic reduction was not as originally thought, and address the main concerns of local traders.

The revised plans are also expected to increase the number of parking bays along Sheffield Road and Westgate above the current level of provision.

A new 20 mph limit will be implemented along Westgate to help to make the stretch between new housing developments and the town centre more attractive to pedestrians and cyclists.

Approximately 400 metres of Westgate leading to the junction with Main Street will incorporate 2 metre-wide advisory cycle lanes on either side with a single carriageway down the middle. This will provide space for motor vehicles to pass using the full width of the road when required whilst indicating to drivers the distance with which they should pass cyclists. The layout follows similar schemes already successfully implemented across the country, in Hull, Sheffield, East Yorkshire, Norwich and London. 

Rotherham Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport and the Environment, Cllr Dominic Beck, said: “We listened to residents and business feedback and have made substantial changes to the original proposals for this stretch of cycle route. This proposal means a minimal impact on motorists, while still meeting the need to ensure that the new housing developments along Sheffield Road are not entirely dependent on cars for travel, and putting the government’s funding for cycle routes to good use.”

“Completing the latest phases of Sheffield Road Cycleways will be a great achievement as it provides a safe and pleasant cycling environment and connects developing communities along the route, reducing air pollution, congestion and supporting healthy lifestyles.”

Monies for the scheme were secured by Rotherham Council and the South Yorkshire Mayor Combined Authority from the Government’s Transforming Cities Fund.

Construction will take place in two phases, starting in the spring and expected to last for 15 months.

More details of the schemes and temporary traffic management plans during the works are available here .

Published: 21st March 2023