Canal route work to start Birmingham Cycle Revolution.
Birmingham’s canal network is set to become more cycle friendly if £6.3 million of improvements are approved by the city council’s Cabinet later this month.
The proposals form part of the wider Birmingham Cycle Revolution project – which won central government backing to the tune of £17million in August of this year.
Under the canals element of the programme, 30km (almost 19 miles) of towpaths would be upgraded to provide a smoother ride for bikes, while improved lighting, new access points to the cycle network and better signage are due to be introduced too.
The work would be carried out on behalf of the city council by the charity Canal & River Trust. If approved by the council on 16th December, it would be likely to begin in February 2014 and be completed by the summer of 2015.
It will consist of six packages located as follows:
- City Centre – Birmingham & Fazeley Canal from Gas Street Basin to Aston Junction, and Digbeth Branch Canal from Aston Junction to Bordesley Junction
- North-East (1) – Birmingham & Fazeley Canal from Aston Junction to Salford Junction
- North-East (2) – Grand Union Canal from Bordesley Junction to Salford Junction and Tame Valley Canal from Salford Circus to Deykin Avenue
- South-East – Grand Union Canal from Bordesley Junction to the Cole Valley Route at The Ackers
- South-West – Worcester & Birmingham Canal from Gas Street Basin to Selly Oak and Bournville
- North-West – Birmingham Main Line Canal from Gas Street Basin to City Boundary at Heath Street – (north towpath only).