Preparation for a major link road 50 years in the making is set to start

Preparations for a bypass that has been decades in the making have just taken their first step.

The A57 link road project is set to see builders start work next year, but in the meantime preparation works need to be carried out, according to National Highways. Plans for the bypass have evolved over the last 50 years, but have never gone ahead, until now.

The Secretary of State for Transport approved Development Consent Orders for the Link Roads Project last year, but a legal challenge delayed the scheme further.

READ MORE: The two Greater Manchester developments that have residents up in arms

That legal challenge was rejected by the Court of Appeal earlier this year, meaning work to enable construction can begin. Announced on August 29, National Highways will be carrying out essential telecommunication diversion works on Mottram Moor in preparation for the new bypass project.

From Monday, September 2 until Friday, October 18 they will be diverting some of the BT cables that currently run in the area. The work will be carried out Monday to Friday from 7am until 5pm with footpath closures on Mottram Moor.

Once work actually starts on the bypass in 2025 it is expected to take approximately three years to complete. The A57 Link Roads project was formerly known as the “Trans-Pennine Upgrade”, and is referred to as the “Mottram Moor Link Road and A57 Link Road project” in the Government’s second Roads Investment Strategy.

The A57 and A628 between Manchester and Sheffield currently suffer from heavy congestion, creating unreliable journeys. This can restrict 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.

Muc