Burton’s latest cycleway finally crosses the finish line

After months of cones, temporary lights and motorists perfecting the art of the deep sigh, Burton’s newest town centre cycleway is officially complete - and fully open to the public.

The newly finished stretch runs from Burton railway station to the Town Hall, creating a direct two-way cycle route along Borough Road and giving walkers and cyclists a smoother journey through the town centre.

The £1.2 million project, delivered by Staffordshire County Council, has taken around five months to complete and forms part of wider efforts to improve active travel routes across Burton.

As well as the new cycle track itself, the works included resurfaced pavements, upgraded bus stops, improved traffic signals and fresh road markings. In other words, not just a lick of paint and a few bicycles stencilled on the tarmac.

Funding for the scheme came largely from East Staffordshire Borough Council’s Town Deal allocation, which contributed £990,000 towards the project. A further £200,000 from the county council paid for additional highways repairs along the route at the same time - part of a “fix it all at once” approach aimed at reducing the need for repeated roadworks later down the line. A concept likely to be warmly welcomed by anyone who’s driven through Burton recently.

Councillor Peter Mason, Cabinet Member for Strategic Highways at Staffordshire County Council, said he was pleased to see the extension completed and highlighted the benefits for people travelling through the town centre.

He said: “This new route will make it much safer and easier for people to travel through the town centre, whether they are walking or cycling.

“As well as creating better active travel links, the project has also improved roads, footways, crossings and bus stop infrastructure along the route, benefiting everyone who travels through the area.”

The completed cycleway now connects key parts of Burton town centre with surrounding residential areas through the National Cycle Network, helping to better link up the station, shopping areas and local services.

And while the roadworks may have tested local patience at times, the end result should make getting around Burton a little easier - whether you’re on two wheels, two feet or just trying to catch the train without playing dodge-the-traffic.