Highways Agency - Safe roads, Reliable journeys, Informed travellers

Public information leaflet - september 2001

Public Information leaflet - September 2001

The problem

The A57/A628 connects Manchester with Sheffield via the M67, A616 and M1. Where the A57 passes through the villages of Mottram and Hollingworth there are several junctions, causing long delays for traffic, there is on-street parking making the road narrow for the large numbers of heavy goods vehicles using the route, and together with steep gradients these make conditions difficult for residents, pedestrians and all road users.

The high volume of traffic causes noise, visual intrusion and severance and creates an unpleasant environment for residents. The accident rate at Tintwistle is more than twice the national average. A bypass would greatly improve conditions for all road users, pedestrians and residents by removing about 70% of through traffic from Mottram, 40% from Hollingworth and 60% from Tintwistle.

The background story

Following earlier investigations to provide a bypass, the scheme was restored to the road programme in 1989 and following a public consultation process a preferred route was selected in October 1993. This route is shown on the map in red. After subsequent reviews by the previous government, work was suspended. In July 1998 the present government published the results of its own review in 'A New Deal for Trunk Roads' and included the bypass as a scheme to be progressed through the preparatory stages. If the scheme is eventually endorsed after full appraisal and statutory procedures it can be taken forward without delay.

Where would the new road go?

The Preferred Route would leave the M67 terminal roundabout in a northeasterly direction and pass under the A6018 Roe Cross Road, Old Road and Old Hall Lane in a tunnel some 120 metres north of the point where those roads converge. This tunnel would be about 170 metres long. To the east of this area the route continues to a roundabout which provides for a link road down to the A57 Mottram Moor. A proposed local authority road would continue this link to the A57 at Woolley Bridge. To the east of the roundabout , the Preferred Route would proceed in a northeasterly direction, then curving southeasterly to join the existing A628 east of Tintwistle near Townhead Farm. The Glossop Spur is a proposed local authority road to continue the link from Mottram Moor to the A57 at Woolley Bridge. Tameside MBC and Derbyshire CC have recently consulted the public over these proposals.

Introduction

This is the second Public information Leaflet to be issued by the Highways Agency aimed at providing you with an update on the progress of this scheme. Some of the previous details about the scheme have been repeated intentionally in case you do not have access to the earlier information issued in June 2000.

Where are we now with the scheme?

Public Participation Exercise

A Public Participation exercise, which included a 'stakeholder seminar' and 'public meeting', was held in February 2001 to establish what are the current concerns and aspirations of those affected. The information obtained was very helpful and is being used in our assessment process.

Reports on both of these meetings are available and copies can be inspected at the following locations

• Libraries at Glossop and Ashton under Lyne
• Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council.

Alternatively, copies can be obtained from Jenny Edwards at the following address:-
Highways Agency
Sunley Tower
Piccadilly Plaza
Manchester
M1 4BE.

Surveys and Assessments

Surveys of travel, environment and archaeology, which are being used in the assessments, are now complete and assessments are well underway. Consideration will be given as to whether a road solution is the most appropriate and these results will be reported to the North West and East Midlands Regional Planning Bodies early in 2002.

It will then be for the Planning Bodies to decide whether or not to recommend Ministers to include a scheme in their Targeted Programme of Improvements. Once in the programme, we would publish the draft Orders as soon as possible and follow the Statutory processes which could lead to a start of works in 2004/5 with completion by 2006/7. These dates will depend on the outcome of any possible Public Inquiry held by an independent inspector who will report to the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions. He will decide whether the Orders are to be confirmed and, if so, when the bypass can be built.

Where can I get further information?

Project Sponsor - Andy Withington
Project Administrator - Ann Farquhar
Tel: 08459 55 65 75