Consultation on £242m Trans-Pennine road improvements to begin

Statutory consultation on plans for a £242m road improvement scheme between Sheffield and Manchester is to get underway next month.

The A57 improvement on the Greater Manchester side, featuring new dual and single carriageways between the M67 and Woolley Bridge, is part of the Trans-Pennine Upgrade programme and requires special planning permission.

There are also proposed safety and technology improvements either side of Woodhead Pass. The plans also includes a major overhaul of Westwood roundabout in South Yorkshire, where the A616 meets the A61.

Highways England has unveiled the timetable for the statutory consultation. It will run between Monday 12 February and Sunday 25 March.

Highways England’s project manager, Monica Corso Griffiths, said: “This is an important investment in one of the most important east to west routes in the country. The improvements form part of the current £15bn government investment in motorways and major A roads and are a vital element of Highways England’s support for the Northern Powerhouse – unlocking the potential for new homes and jobs by tackling congestion.”

The proposals included in the public consultation are:

Mottram Moor link road – a new dual carriageway from the M67 junction 4 roundabout to a new junction on the A57 at Mottram Moor and a new single carriageway connecting to the A6018 Roe Cross Road.

A new single carriageway link from the A57 at Mottram Moor to a new junction on the A57 at Woolley Bridge

Safety and technology improvements – including safety measures focused on addressing accident hotspots and the provision of electronic message signs
A616/A61 Westwood roundabout; improvements to reduce congestion and improve the flow of traffic through the roundabout in Tankersley, Sheffield.