Leigh Traffic Reduction Scheme
Works are due to start 27th May 2025 for approximately 18 weeks. Works will be phased as follows:
Walmesley Road (27th May for approximately 5 weeks)
- A new zebra crossing will be installed between St Mary's Primary School and Leigh Parish Church/Asda
- The temporary measures currently in place, to create a one-way traffic system, will be replaced by permanent kerb buildouts featuring rain gardens.
View Walmesley Road plans.
Kirkhall Lane (9th June for approximately 5 weeks)
A new puffin crossing will be built between the junctions of Globe Street and Newall Grove. Side road uncontrolled crossing points will also be upgraded along Kirkhall Lane.
View Kirkhall Lane plans.
Twist Lane (June to be confirmed for approximately 5 weeks)
A new puffin crossing will be built between the junctions of Welch Hill Street and Organ Street. Street trees will be put on Organ Street and uncontrolled crossing points will be upgraded.
View Twist Lane plans.
Windemere Road (July to be confirmed for approximately 5 weeks)
- The temporary one-way system will be replaced by permanent kerb buildouts featuring rain gardens at or below road level
- Side road crossings will also be improved along Windermere Road
- An Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system will be installed to enforce the school street timed closures and prevent the misuse of the road by motorists
- Residents that live within the school street scheme will be written to separately by the Council’s Network Management team informing them on how they can apply for an exemption to enter/exit the scheme.
Windemere Road plans.
Atherleigh Way (August to be confirmed for approximately 3 weeks)
The grass verge running from Windermere Grove to the signal-controlled crossing on Atherleigh Way will be widened, surfaced and additional lighting installed between Atherleigh Way and Windermere Grove. This will provide a safe link for pedestrians coming from Leigh town centre, wanting to access the retail park.
Atherleigh Way plan.
Traffic management
The Council and the contractor, AE Yates, are planning to start works on Walmesley Road from 27th May 2025. As the contractor moves onto new locations, letters will be sent to affected residents and businesses providing further information. A robust traffic management plan is in place, with all works taking place under two-way temporary traffic lights. All roadworks, including diversions, will be clearly signposted. Access to properties and businesses will be maintained where possible.
How do I get in touch with the contractor?
If you have any queries, please contact the site manager Terry Nuttall on 07969 006 472 or [email protected].
To stay up-to-date please check the roadworks bulletin.
ANPR cameras
Residents that live within the School Streets scheme will be written to separately by our Network Management team explaining how they can apply for an exception to enter/exit the scheme.
School street scheme overview
The proposed school streets scheme aims to improve traffic and road safety by reducing traffic and creating quieter streets. Encouraging walking and cycling for short trips can reduce congestion and improve health. The scheme will reduce road danger around primary schools by making the temporary school streets on Windermere Road and Walmesley Road permanent, promoting active travel and supporting the 'park and stride' scheme. It also highlights the benefits of reallocating road space, reducing air pollution, and ensuring all addresses remain accessible by car without permanent road closures.
Home and business access in school street zone
It is important that every address within the area is still accessible by car. Wigan Council are not planning to closing any roads permanently.
Road closures
Roads will be closed for a timed period morning and afternoon:
- 8:15am - 9:15am
- 3:00pm- 4:00pm.
Locations
- Windermere Road (from Grasmere Street to Gordon Street)
- Glebe Street (from Prescott Street).
Changes
- ANPR cameras will be installed to monitor the school street zone
- New one-way systems will be introduced where necessary
- The school street will be extended.
Access
- Residents, emergency services, and school coaches will always have access
- A whitelist will be created to allow residents to pass cameras without receiving a penalty charge notice (PCN). Details on how to submit information will be provided before the camera installation.
Consultation
The consultation took place in July 2023.
Methods included:
- Leaflet drops with scheme plans
- Information on Wigan Council's website
- Press releases and social media posts
- Briefings to various stakeholders.
Stakeholders
Stakeholders we have engaged with are:
- Local residents
- Ward Councillors
- Emergency services
- Local schools
- Religious institutions
- Community and disability groups
- Local businesses
- Taxi companies
- Waste Services
- Highways
- Transport for Greater Manchester.
Funding
The Mayor's Challenge Fund (MCF) is providing funding for walking and cycling improvements. If the funds are not used in Wigan, they will be allocated elsewhere in Greater Manchester.
Wigan Council are working with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) to develop a segregated walking and cycling path along St Helens Road; from Bonnywell Road up to West Bridgewater Street.
Construction Phase
The contractor, George Cox and Sons Ltd carrying out the works. As part of the works, utility diversions from ENW, Cadent, BT and Virgin are also required.
Bus diversion information is available at Transport for Greater Manchester (external link) and will be shared in Leigh bus station.
The scheme
St Helens Road in Leigh is a very busy A-road carrying a lot of traffic in and out of Leigh town centre. At peak times over 1,000 cars per hour have been recorded using this route.
There are very few pedestrian and cycle crossing points on this road and the existing cycling facilities are poor.
On busy roads, which are usually the most direct routes between places, it is necessary to provide dedicated space for cycling and the facilities should provide physical protection rather than the current advisory painted cycle lanes.
The proposed scheme includes:
- Segregated two-way cycle track on the west side of St Helens Road in Leigh. The cycle track will be protected from motor traffic using raised kerbs
- A new toucan crossing close to Bonnywell Road
- Upgrading the existing crossing close to West Bridgewater Street to a toucan crossing
- Crossing points at side roads will also be improved. Kerbs will be dropped at both sides of the road with tactile paving where the pavement slopes towards the road
- A new bus stop bypass where the cycle track will run behind the bus stop. Zebra crossings and tactile paving will allow pedestrians to cross the cycle track at either end of the bus stop.
This scheme will connect St Helens Road to the completed off-road paths improvements scheme around Leigh Sports Village and Pennington Flash.
The future ambition is to continue the route over the canal bridge through to Leigh town centre. These schemes are dependent on future funding opportunities.
Detailed plans for the scheme