Published: Tuesday, 1st December 2015
Cannock Chase Council welcome plans by Highways England to provide a cycle route along the A5 trunk road between the A5/A34/A460/M6T Churchbridge Junction and Brownhills.
Highways England, the new arms-length Government owned company is tasked with managing the motorway and trunk road network and have confirmed that work on the scheme will start immediately and be carried out separately in three phases as follows:
- A5 Washbrook Lane to Churchbridge Cycle Scheme
- A5/A452 Brownhills Cycle Scheme
- Rising Sun to Washbrook Lane Cycle Scheme
It is understood that the majority of the works will be carried out at night under full closures, lane closures and temporary traffic signals.
Councillor Gordon Alcott, Portfolio Leader for Economic Development and Planning said “The work being carried out to improve the cycle and pedestrian provision along the A5 is badly needed and fully supported by the Council. It fits in with the Council’s strategy of improving access to key employment sites and in this case lies within close proximity of the Kingswood Lakeside employment park and the Orbital Centre.
It is also in accordance with the Council’s Local Plan Transport Policy as well as Staffordshire County Council’s Local Transport Plan 2013. As part of this Strategy, the Norton Canes Local Transport Package supports cycling initiatives to connect key employment sites with residential areas.
The Council is also a member of the 18 authority, A5 Transport Group and improvements to walking and cycling are included in its long term strategy for the A5.
For all of the above reasons, the Council are happy to support Highway England’s proposed Churchbridge-Brownhills A5 cycleway."