Govt green lights long-awaited Mottram Bypass
A £200m project aimed at easing traffic jams on the A57 between Manchester and Sheffield has been given the go-ahead after decades of clamour for a solution to the congestion.
A statement from National Highways welcomed the government’s decision to approve the project and said work could begin next spring.
Balfour Beatty was appointed to deliver the £200m road scheme, known as the A57 Link Roads Project, in 2020.
“The route between the Manchester and Sheffield city regions currently suffers from heavy congestion…[that] restricts potential economic growth and limits job opportunities,” according to National Highways.
The project will see a new dual carriageway link road built from Junction 4 of the M67, diverting traffic away from the centre of Mottram.
The link road will pass under the A6018, where it will reduce to a single carriageway before joining Woolley Bridge.
The scheme, first mooted in the 1970s, has seen National Highways pay special attention to the impact it would have on air quality.
Some local communities have objected to the link road scheme due to concerns about its environmental impact.
In its decision notice approving the project, the government accepted the scheme would “result in an increase in carbon emissions”.
However, it was concluded that the “proposed development is consistent with existing and emerging policy requirements to achieve the UK’s trajectory towards net zero.”
The Mottram By-Pass is synonymous with how every government treats the North. They were talking about this when I was at school. I am 60 next year.
By Elephant
Ah yes, the tried and tested “build more roads and increase carbon emissions” route to net zero
By W
A complete waste of money for a road that will only be congested in a few years. Building more roads to solve congestion is like buying bigger pants as a solution to obesity
By Anonymous
There is no question to which more road space is a positive answer.
By Gethin
This will result in extra traffic going through a small village resulting in more emissions,noise,speeding and inhaling brake emissions.
By Chris Cowle
Only way to control road space is to charge for it at the busiest times and use that money for environmental improvements and pay other non essential users to drive at least busy times. Whatever you think or not road pricing is on the way, Holland are exploring this option now.
By Texxi
Shut roads so folk mun stay at hom.
Or, harken to the Norwegian folk saying: “If you cannot go (walk), then go (die).”
Why relevant? Work it out for your sen. It’s poetry.
By James Yates
Dear Mr. Elephant. The problem is “rule by Unified-State or National government”. Why must a Mottram Moor by-pass be decided (Norman-French: what a give away!) by desk-jockeys in London?
By James Yates
I can not see how this is going to reduce volume of traffic through Glossop town centre. It is likely to move the bottle neck currently at Wooley Bridge to Glossop town centre which is has a high volume of through traffic which is contributing to the poor road condition/pot holes etc. The money for this project would be better spent improving the public transport systems such as train and bus services.
By Bill Dyson
So I’ m guessing that HGV’s will block the outside lane.
Absolute waste of money.
By Peter Chapman
Get it sorted soon as possible
By Chris
This scheme is nuts! It’s just moving the traffic jams around and will make Glossop’s traffic congestion worse. Building another road at the end of the M67 to come out the other side of Tintwistle should do the trick and by passing Tintwistle Hollingsworth and Mottram.
By Gillian
About time!
By Anonymous
This is a bit of a waste of time really it’s only cutting the traffic lights out at Mottram, then causing problems in Dinting, but the air quality should be better because there isn’t going to be traffic standing on Mottram Moor, with their engines running for 10 mins at a time.
By Michael Cervi
About time
By Fred
How will bypassing mottram instead of crawling , stop /start for 1/2 hour increase pollution ????
By Anonymous
Ban HGV vehicles going over Woodhead to join the M1, this would instantly stop the high amount of traffic. The Woodhead Road is certainly not a road fit for HGV waggons. On the odd occasion when Woodhead is closed due to snow or an accident, traffic is barely noticeable.
By Anonymous
What about the residents of Hollingworth as this does nothing to stop traffic from having to go through the village spend a day in the village counting heavy vehicles alone then say it’s a good idea
By Anonymous
Lots of negative comments but I have to say this looks a great scheme. Long overdue and very much needed.
By Welshie
This is a much needed road, which will form part of another section to be completed in due course. Those complaining about this new road, are normally the same people who complain it is too hot when they go on holiday to Spain.
By Mark
Terrible waste of money as it does not resolve the problem of all the traffic coming and going towards Sheffield through tintwhistle
By Anonymous