A555 Airport Relief Road shut due to flooding AGAIN

The A555 Airport Relief Road has shut again after it flooded during Storm Franklin.

The road, which has been plagued with flooding problems since its completion in 2018, was closed this afternoon (Sunday, February 20).

The closure is in place between Bramhall Oil Terminal and Styal Road.

Drivers have been urged to avoid the area.

READ MORE: Evacuation underway in Didsbury amid 'danger to life' flood warning

In a tweet, Stockport Council said: "Due to flooding, we have closed the A555 between the Oil Terminal and the A34 junction at Handforth Dean westbound and Styal road to the oil terminal eastbound.

"Please avoid the area and use alternative routes."

The road, which links Hazel Grove to the airport, has flooded several times during heavy rain since it was opened.

An independent investigation into the disastrous floods that hit Stockport in the summer of 2019 previously revealed that ‘design shortcomings’ meant the £290m route would ‘remain vulnerable to flooding from prolonged or frequent heavy rainfall’.

It was closed multiple times in 2020 and in January and August of last year.

Stockport council's economy and regeneration chief Coun David Meller previously admitted the flooding problems may never be solved.

Flood warnings are in place in several parts of Greater Manchester this evening amid torrential rainfall.

The River Mersey in Didsbury has already burst its banks, and there are two 'severe flood warnings' - meaning danger to life - in place.

They cover:

Residents have been told to call 999 if they are in immediate danger, to make sure you have an emergency kit and evacuate if told to do so.

Heavy rain has also led to delays on several other roads across the region, including the M62 near Heywood.

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