It doesn't justify it, but I suspect either (as said upthread) Salford now has a cycling advocate, or its received money specifically for cycling infrastructure.
During lockdown the council took the opportunity to either create new cycle lanes, or barrier off existing cycle lanes, on several roads which are close to the border with Manchester. Some of these were upgraded post lock down.
This for example used to be crap to ride on. The road surface was dreadful and there was no segregation between cyclists and cars.