TRANSPORT bosses have shed new light on plans for a £4.1m system of walking and cycling tracks in the town centre.

The proposals would see the creation of seven new crossings, several two-way cycle tracks on one-way streets and more cycle parking.

Funding could be approved on Friday at a meeting of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) during which the regional body could offer £3.5m, with a further £600,000 from local funds.

The project is part of plans for the Bee Network, an interconnected system of more than 1,800 miles of cycling and walking routes across the region.

Other upgrades include more accessible subway routes.

In comes in addition to a new Dutch-style cycle path running parallel to Chorley Old Road.

This had already been approved and would take travellers down Bark Street and through Queens Park before cutting across smaller roads and ending at the Moss Bank Way Roundabout in Doffcocker.

Speaking after the latest plans were announced, Greater Manchester’s cycling and walking commissioner, Chris Boardman, said he “couldn’t have imaged” the scheme would get so much interest.

The gold medal winning cyclist added: “We can crack on with the development and build of a lot of these schemes - and in the meantime we’re going to scale up our campaign to secure further funding and will shortly publish a delivery plan.

“A true alternative to the car is something that Greater Manchester residents clearly want – that’s why I’m so pleased to announce that our planned network is now longer and more comprehensive than before.”

Planned new crossings in Bolton include one at Bradford Street, another on Bow Street and two on St George’s Street.

The initial funding for the Bee Network came out of a £150m pot handed to Greater Manchester by the government’s Transforming Cities Fund.

Cllr Stuart Haslam, Executive Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said: “This is good news for Bolton.

“This new cycling and walking scheme will boost people’s health as well as improving the environment.

“Should the funding be approved to develop the full scheme this week, we will then put a full business case together to progress the project.”