Upgrades to 10 pedestrian crossings will make it safer and easier for people to get to and from bus stops, as part of work to improve journeys on key bus routes in Oldham, Bolton, and Wigan, Transport for Greater Manchester has said.

The £720,000 scheme will see improvements to four crossings in Oldham as well as a further three in both Bolton and Wigan.

All 10 Pelican crossings will be upgraded to Puffin crossings to ensure they meet current standards and provide benefits to pedestrians. While Pelican crossings use set timings, Puffin crossings use sensors to determine when the crossing is clear.

Upgrades will also be carried out to improve pedestrian safety, and access to bus stops to minimise delays to road traffic including buses.

These include increasing the width of crossings and introducing tactile paving and dropped kerbs between several crossings and nearby bus stops.

Sign up to our newsletters to get the latest stories sent straight to your inbox.

The funds for the crossings are recommended for approval at the Bee Network Committee on Thursday, January 25, with upgrades set to take place through spring and summer 2024.

As well as improving public transport links, these works will also improve walking, wheeling and cycling routes – to improve the roads for everyone, including drivers, by reducing congestion and speeding up journey times.  

£75 million is being used to improve journeys on five key ‘orbital’ bus routes, where these crossings are located, between towns in Greater Manchester.  

These routes are:  

  • Rochdale-Ashton-Oldham 
  • Bury to Rochdale 
  • Ashton to Stockport 
  • Wigan to Bolton 
  • Wigan to Leigh 

Follow The Oldham Times on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, and Threads.

Stephen Rhodes, TfGM’s director of bus, said: “For the Bee Network to be a success we need to improve journeys on the key routes people use every day.  

“That’s what these wider works are about, whether you are on a bus, driving, walking, wheeling or cycling. They will help to ease congestion and get people moving – making journeys easier and quicker.  

“These crossings are a way we can make real change quickly before the more major changes start to come in over the next few years and make significant improvements for the people that travel on these roads.  

“We know people want to see real change now and we’re going to make sure we do that to not just improve journey times, but reliability, comfort and how safe people feel when out travelling.” 

The works to improve these routes is set to take place between now and 2027 and the public will get the chance to find out more about them and have their say through engagement and consultation.     

If you have a story, I cover the whole borough of Oldham. Please get in touch at jack.fifield@newsquest.co.uk or click to send me a message on WhatsApp or on Signal on 07517566383.