A junction in Fallowfield, south Manchester, has been transformed into a Cyclops junction as part of a £1.2m project completed three months ahead of schedule.
The junction where Wilmslow Road, Ladybarn Road and Sherwood Road meet has been redesigned to provide safer access for pedestrians and cyclists. The project, announced earlier this year, is part of a gradual city-wide overhaul of active travel infrastructure.
Key improvements at the junction
The changes include three new dedicated crossing points for pedestrians and cyclists, a prohibition of driving except for bikes on Sherwood Street between Wilmslow Road and Boland Drive, a relocation of the loading bay on Ladybarn Road, new rumble strips, and improved signage and road markings.
The busy junction, located in the city's student heartland, had become notorious for congestion and travel incidents. From 2018 to 2023 there were 15 crashes at the junction, two of which were classed as serious. In 2022, the town hall identified the junction as needing upgraded infrastructure.
Official response and wider context
Councillor Mandie Shilton Godwin, Executive Member for Clean Air, Environment and Transport, said: "We're continuing to invest in our neighbourhoods, working to provide improved infrastructure to ensure that we can keep the city moving.
"This latest development is hugely significant for our aspirations when it comes to providing new and better routes for cyclists and pedestrians. There is an ever-growing green band that now stretches from South Manchester, through Fallowfield and up towards Gorton, linking up our communities and providing not only safe pathways, but vital green space where people can move more freely.
"I'm really pleased that we were able to get these improvements up and running ahead of schedule, providing better infrastructure that will go a long way when it comes to keeping people on the roads safe."
Drone footage shows the works
Drone footage shows the progression of the works on the city's major artery, which is a vital north-south route into Manchester city centre, as well as an important east-west route across south Manchester. Workers can be seen tearing up the road with diggers, reshaping pavements, and creating new cycle paths in the Dutch and Danish-style rounded junction, which keeps pedestrians and cyclists more protected from motor traffic.
