A road project that will create a new dual carriageway from the M67 junction four to a new junction on the A57 (T), to help ease traffic on the popular Manchester to Sheffield route, has got one step closer.
The joint-venture Balfour Beatty Atkins has been appointed by Highways England as its design partner for the £200m Mottram Bypass project. A six-week public consultation is set to be held in the winter. If the plans are approved, work could start in 2023, Highways England has said.
Project manager Andy Dawson said: “We’re pleased to have a contractor on board for the bypass which will take traffic away from Mottram in Longdendale, and provide quicker, safer and more reliable journeys for thousands of drivers every day.”
Stalybridge and Hyde MP Jonathan Reynolds said: “This will markedly ease the unacceptable congestion levels through our villages, and significantly reduce journey times from Manchester to Sheffield.
“This will boost quality of life locally and could prove a significant economic stimulus across the East side of Greater Manchester. Currently, 25,000 vehicles and 2000 HGVs chug through Mottram every single day, causing delays, noise and pollution, and deterring investment.
“This is great news for the whole area – Tameside has been one big traffic jam for too long, the bottleneck of all cross-Pennine congestion. I really believe it will be transformative for residents, businesses, drivers and pedestrians alike. I promised I would get this road or die trying, and now we are finally on the home straight.”
Phil Clifton, managing director of Balfour Beatty’s Highways business, added: “Balfour Beatty, and our design partners, Atkins, are proud to be delivering this critical project to support economic growth in the North of England.
“We are pleased to contribute to the development of the local area by connecting communities and bringing additional social value through the use of local suppliers and supporting employment opportunities within the area; helping to leave a lasting legacy in the communities in which we work.”
