A long-awaited bypass project, which has been in the pipeline for over 50 years, could finally begin soon. The Mottram Bypass, a £228m A57 link road scheme designed to alleviate congestion between Manchester and Sheffield, was given the final approval last year, despite being first proposed in 1965.
The project was set to kick off in early 2023 in the southern part of Tameside, but a legal challenge from a countryside charity temporarily halted progress. However, the Court of Appeal dismissed the challenge in 2024, giving the green light for construction preparations - a decision that delighted Stalybridge and Hyde MP Jonathan Reynolds.
The A57 Link Roads project will see the creation of two new link roads, including the Mottram Moor Link Road, a new dual carriageway from the M67 junction 4 roundabout to a new junction on the A57(T) at Mottram Moor. While contractors are yet to begin work on the new road, preparatory works have already started.
From this Monday there will be a lane closure on Mottram Moor between the Back Moor traffic lights and the Gun Inn pub, ending on Sunday, January 19. Traffic will be reduced to single file in both directions while the pedestrian island is removed, followed by a single lane closure on the section of road between Back Moor traffic lights and the first bus layby heading eastbound towards the Gun Inn pub.
This is on top of the ongoing roadworks at Roe Cross Road, where traffic will be channelled into a single lane in each direction with constricted lanes for the duration of the project. The National Highways website details the traffic issues: "The A57 and A628 between Manchester and Sheffield currently suffer from heavy congestion, creating unreliable journeys. This restricts potential economic growth, as the delivery of goods to businesses is often delayed and the route is not ideal for commuters, which limits employment opportunities.", reports .
"Much of this heavy traffic travels through local roads, which disrupts the lives of communities and makes it difficult and potentially unsafe for pedestrians to cross the roads. These issues will only get worse with time if significant improvements aren't made."
Groundwork on the new link road is slated to commence soon and its completion will take years.
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