The scheme has been more than half a century in the making
Motorists can expect delays through Mottram Moor over the next two weekends as work continues on a major bypass scheme ‘60 years in the making’.
Work on the new A57 link road scheme began last year, The Mottram bypass has been an ongoing saga in Tameside for decades, but now it is close to becoming a reality.
The £228m project aimed at tackling congestion between Manchester and Sheffield.
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There will be disruption between 7pm today (March 13) until 6am on Monday, March 16 and between the same times the following weekend (March 20 to 23).
According to National Highways, the work involves installing utility services and building a new plant crossing. This will allow construction materials to be moved safely and efficiently across the A57 as part of the major scheme.
Following extensive preparation and site clearance works, the project is now moving into the main construction phase. Three key milestones mark this progress: the start of piling works for a new underpass in Mottram; construction of a new through road across Hattersley roundabout; and the building of a temporary plant crossing at Mottram Moor.
Andrew Scatchard, National Highways senior project manager, said: “This is an exciting time as we reach these three major milestones in our work to build the two new link roads, which will help address the long-standing issue of congestion in Mottram-in-Longdendale and improve journeys between Manchester and Sheffield.”
Underpass piling
The first milestone is the start of piling works for the new underpass that will carry the A57 Link Road beneath Roe Cross Road and Old Hall Lane in Mottram, connecting to the A57 at Mottram Moor.
To enable construction, a temporary relief road has been built to carry traffic along Roe Cross Road, with vehicles successfully transferred onto this new route. This has created the space needed to position the large piling rig required to construct the underpass.
Hattersley roundabout
The second milestone can be seen at junction 4 of the M67 motorway, also known as Hattersley roundabout.
Groundworks are underway to create a new through road across the roundabout. Once complete, this will allow westbound traffic travelling from the new dual carriageway link road to access the motorway more directly, improving traffic flow and making journeys quicker and smoother.
Mottram Moor plant crossing
The third milestone is the construction of a temporary plant crossing over the A57 road at Mottram Moor, starting this week.
The crossing will allow construction vehicles to safely transport excavated material from the underpass works across Mottram Moor for use along the ‘Glossop Spur’ link road, reducing the need to transport material off site.
Andrew Scatchard added: “At the same time as we construct the crossing, our utility partners will also complete important utility works. We always strive to minimise disruption where possible, but delays to journeys are expected over the next two weekends and the week in between.
“We therefore advise people to plan before they travel and allow extra time to complete their journeys. We would again like to thank the local community, including road users, for their support and patience while we carry out this work.”
The A57 link roads project includes the creation of two new link roads. One is Mottram Moor link road – a new dual carriageway from the M67 junction 4 roundabout to a new junction on the A57 at Mottram Moor.
The other is the A57 link road – a new single carriageway link from the A57 at Mottram Moor to a new junction on the A57 in Woolley Bridge.
Once installed, the plant crossing is expected to come into use from mid-April. When in operation, traffic will be held for short periods only, with traffic lights in place and regularly monitored, while construction vehicles transport materials across Mottram Moor.
The A57 link roads scheme is estimated to be up and running by 2028, but a full completion date could be as late as 2031, according to the National Highways website.