Historic day arrives: Celebrating work on new groundbreaking bypass

The new A57 Link Roads scheme will transform travel in the North by reducing congestion, improving journeys between Manchester and Sheffield, boosting travel connections and supporting economic growth. It will also reduce noise and pollution levels for communities of Mottram-in-Longdendale.

The eagerly anticipated National Highways project has already created new jobs, including apprenticeships and graduate supported roles.

National Highways Chief Executive Nick Harris welcomed Jonathan Reynolds (MP for Stalybridge & Hyde) to a special celebratory event. Mr Reynolds and High Peak MP Jon Pearce used spades to ‘break the ground’ in a memorable moment.

Henri Murison, Chief Executive of Northern Powerhouse Partnership; Kirsten Keen, Transport for the North; Cllr Damien Greenhalgh, Deputy Leader High Peak Borough Council; and Leader of Tameside Council Cllr Eleanor Wills were also present to mark the occasion.

Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, said:

“This is a long-awaited moment for communities across the North. The A57 Link Roads will not only cut congestion and shorten journey times between Manchester and Sheffield, but will also open up new opportunities for growth, jobs and investment across the region.

“Jonathan Reynolds has been a fantastic advocate for this vital project. We’re proud to be backing it as part of our plan to boost connectivity through our Plan for Change.”

National Highways Chief Executive Nick Harris said:

“We are delighted with the Government’s commitment to deliver this major investment in our road network 
“The A57 Link Roads scheme will transform travel in the North by improving journey time and reliability between Manchester and Sheffield. This will help unlock economic growth within and between these two cities, creating jobs and encouraging businesses to grow.”

The A57 Link Roads project includes the creation of two new link roads:

• Mottram Moor Link Road – a new dual carriageway from the M67 junction 4 roundabout to a new junction on the A57 at Mottram Moor
• A57 Link Road – a new single carriageway link from the A57 at Mottram Moor to a new junction on the A57 in Woolley Bridge.

The current scheme has evolved over more than 50 years as different ideas have been explored, with funding confirmed last year.

Jonathan Reynolds, MP for Stalybridge & Hyde, said:

“It is hard to express how happy I am that work on the A57 Link Road is starting. For our area, the bypass is the culmination of work that goes as far back as 1965.

“Many, many people, including myself since I was a councillor for Longdendale, have been involved in campaigning for this road to be built. This is a victory for the residents who have had to endure endless traffic jams for far too long.”

This transformative work is imperative because the A57 and A628 between Manchester and Sheffield suffers from heavy congestion, creating unreliable journeys. This restricts 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.

Much of this heavy traffic travels through local roads, which disrupts the lives of communities and makes it difficult for pedestrians to cross the roads. The upgrade will enhance conditions for pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians alike.

High Peak MP Jon Pearce said:

"My constituents have been waiting for generations for a bypass to be built – now it is finally happening. The A57 Link Roads scheme will make a huge difference for Glossop and High Peak businesses, residents and commuters.

“I look forward to continuing to work with National Highways to deliver it and explore improvements and solutions with them to further ease the problems of congestion and pollution in Tintwistle and Hollingworth.”

Enabling works have been carried out to pave the way for the construction of the bypass, including site clearance and archaeology. The building of a specific works site located off the A57 is also under way.

Separate upgrades to the Westwood roundabout near Sheffield will see technology improvements along the A628, A616 and A61, including electronic signs and improved closure gates, complementing the new link roads.

For more information about the scheme visit the webpage here.

Notes to Editors

National Highways is the wholly government-owned company responsible for modernising, maintaining and operating England’s motorways and major A roads.

Real-time traffic information for England’s motorways and major A roads is available via the Traffic England website, local and national radio travel bulletins, electronic road signs and mobile apps. Local Twitter services are also available.

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