Shabbos-friendly crossing to be installed at busy Prestwich junction

A special application is to be added to traffic lights at a new signalised traffic junction in Sedgley Park to enable Orthodox Jewish residents to cross the road on Shabbos and Jewish holidays without pressing any buttons.

Believed to be the only one outside London, the system will work at the junction of Kings Road, Bury New Road and George Street.

It will go live when the new crossing is completed. The scheme was designed by Bury Council and Transport for Greater Manchester (TFGM).

Councillor Richard Gold, cabinet member for communities, said: “Prestwich is home to one of the largest Jewish communities in England, and this will be warmly welcomed by Jewish residents who observe the laws of Shabbos and are prohibited from operating electrical equipment on that day.

“It means that a pedestrian crossing period will automatically take place after the regular cycle of signals (red/amber/green). I’d like to thank officers at Bury Council and TFGM for their help in devising this.”

ENDS

Press release issued: 17 March 2022.