NCN 55
In Salford the former loop lines which have been closed since the 1960s have been used as strategic walking and cycling routes for over 20 years. The loop lines form part of National Cycle Network route 55, recent improvements to surfacing and accesses have provided a good traffic free route for walkers and cyclists along parts of the Tyldesley and Roe Green looplines.

The former railway line along which the Tyldesley Loopline now extends was opened in 1864 and stretched from Eccles to Wigan. The Line helped provide a link between the Manchester and Liverpool main line and the West Coast route which connected London and Glasgow. Typical traffic included the transportation of coal, farm machinery and in the summer, holiday specials to Blackpool.

The Roe Green Loopline is a former branch line which ran from Roe Green to Bolton via Little Hulton. The line was opened in 1870 and cut the cost of transporting coal into Manchester by 25%. By 1874 a passenger service was up and running, this service remained in operation until 1956 when the passenger station at Walkden (low level) and Little Hulton were closed.

The closure of the rail lines enabled, these routes to be developed as leisure routes such as walking and cycling. Salford City Council has recently completed phase 2 of the loop line improvements which re-opened to the public on the 23rd May 2008. This completed a 2.5km stretch between Chedworth Crescent and Tynesbank. The project has provided a 3m wide shared cycle / pedestrian path with improvements to accesses and route signing.

Further phases of the route will provide improvements along the remaining stretch to Monton Green, providing 7km of off road route between Bolton and Monton, forming part of NCN55.

NCN 6
NCN6 is the north/south route through the city that links Manchester with Bury through Salford.

Work has recently been completed on a new spur of NCN6 alongside the River Irwell in Lower Kersal. The spur has provided a 1.8km traffic free riverside route for pedestrians and cyclists between Cowling Street and Littleton Road.

The scheme has widened and resurfaced the existing pathway on the northern side of the Irwell between Cowling Street and Jubilee Bridge providing a shared pedestrian and cycle route. The Southern side of the river between Jubilee Bridge and Littleton Rd has had a new shared pedestrian and cycle path constructed.

Bridgewater Canal
The canal was one of the first to be laid out across open country rather than following an existing River, the main length runs from Runcorn to Manchester, with a branch to Leigh. The 40 mile route is now being developed as an important leisure route for walkers and cyclists.

The Bridgewater Way is a regeneration project that will create a 39 mile leisure route alongside the historic Bridgewater Canal. The Bridgewater Way is being promoted by the Bridgewater Canal Trust, a partnership between the Manchester Ship Canal Company and 8 local authorities, including Wigan, Salford, Manchester and Trafford.

In Salford a 0.8km route between Liverpool Road and Hall Bank was improved last year to provide a shared surface for walkers and cyclists on this section. Further improvements are planned in the coming years to complete a 3km route through the city.