The Mayor of Barnsley and triple Olympic cycling champion turned Active Travel Commissioner for South Yorkshire, Ed Clancy OBE, marked the formal opening of the A61 active travel scheme on May, 14th.
Delivered by Esh Construction’s civil engineering division, the project provides a continuous four-mile walking, wheeling and cycling route linking the Barnsley transport interchange to Royston.
The scheme focused on enhancing connectivity, improving active travel and healthier lifestyles for residents and visitors.
Working in partnership with Barnsley Council, Esh worked across four sites to create safe off-road cycling routes, quality infrastructure for walkers and cyclists, improved links to other routes, better connections between residential areas and local amenities, and fully signposted cycle routes.
The scheme, which is part of the Government’s Transforming Cities Fund (TCF) included widened pavements, improved lighting, and upgraded crossings to prioritise safety and accessibility, making sure that everyone can navigate the route with confidence.
Michael Sherrard, Esh’s Construction Manager, said: “It was a pleasure to work in partnership with our client to create an active travel route in Barnsley. Delivering this project required extensive logistical planning, we worked across four different site locations which included online travel networks and commuter routes. This is one of three active travel projects we are delivering in South Yorkshire and we look forward to assisting more local authorities to deliver these important infrastructure upgrades in the future.”
Matt O’Neill, Executive Director for Growth and Sustainability, said: “The opening of the A61 Royston to town centre scheme represents another significant step forward in our commitment to creating a more sustainable and connected Barnsley and meeting the growing demand for active travel infrastructure.
“Through community engagement, we have been able to gather feedback about the scheme and tailor it to meet the needs of our residents and provide enhanced transport infrastructure which also promotes healthier lifestyles and opportunities for our residents to be more physically active so they move more, live well and feel better.
“We’re grateful for the support and collaboration of our residents, partners, and stakeholders in making this vision a reality.”
Ed Clancy, Active Travel Commissioner for South Yorkshire, added: “My priority is to make it easier for everyone to choose walking, wheeling and cycling for everyday journeys. The new A61 walking and cycling route helps to give people in Barnsley and beyond the freedom and choice to travel differently and to be more active.
“Removing barriers that prevent people from moving about – such as busy roads, noisy traffic and dirty air – and introducing more inclusive streets not only helps to bring about better places, but contributes to our end goal of a creating a healthier, happier and safer South Yorkshire.”
Social value delivered as part of the project included a volunteering activity at Oaks Lane, an ex-colliery site and location of the 1866 Oaks Mining Disaster. A group of Esh Construction colleagues volunteered for a combined 42 hours alongside Barnsley Main Heritage Group to clear woodland after tree felling, dig and create a hibernaculum, re-use the woodchip generated from tree felling in the planted garden, and litter pick the cleared areas.”
It was a pleasure to work in partnership with our client to create an active travel route in Barnsley. Delivering this project required extensive logistical planning, we worked across four different site locations which included online travel networks and commuter routes.”