Almost £1 million to be spent on traffic-plagued section of A560

A roundabout that is regularly blocked with queuing traffic will get an overhaul that transport bosses hope will ease congestion.

Following approval from the Bee Network Committee on June 27, £810,000 will be spent on the A560 between Hattersley Roundabout and Green Lane. The idea behind the plan is to significantly improve the Bee Network’s pedestrian, cycling and local bus infrastructure along the stretch of road which connects to the M67.

The section of road sits in the middle of two huge development sites, with the Mottram Bypass planned on one side and the Godley Green housing allocation on the other. 

This will act as a key link between the two by widening active travel options and improving crossing points alongside enhancing the Hattersley viaduct section. The money will also go towards the maintenance works to the Hattersley viaduct.

Cllr Ged Cooney, leader of Tameside Council, said this stretch of road has been a ‘nightmare for traffic’ and has welcomed any funding that can help cut down congestion. 

Transport for Greater Manchester papers read: “It will improve access to Hattersley, local services and the recently upgraded train station, reduce severance caused by the existing highway network and improve safety. 

“It forms an important part of the local active travel strategy and involves introducing segregated cycleways alongside the A560, widening footpaths and improving crossing points alongside enhancing the Hattersley viaduct section.

"Linking into the Mottram Bypass proposals and Trans-Pennine trail it will directly support the Godley Green development and the Places for Everyone allocation (which has planning approval) located adjacent to the corridor, through providing the sustainable travel infrastructure that will improve access to Hattersley and help manage its travel impact.”

Godley Green’s 2,000-home ‘garden village’ in Tameside was given a final green light back in November 2023. The sections of the site, based in Hyde, would be split by Godley Brook across two east and west villages.

Each would have their own ‘local centres’ which would include up to 1,300 sqm of retail space, 1,600 sqm of commercial and 1,000 sqm of local community uses. Impact on local infrastructure was a big concern in the build up to the decision being made, so these latest road plans for the A560 could help remedy possible traffic issues in the future.

The other link from this scheme would be to the Mottram Bypass, which was given the green light in April 2024. The bypass, which was first mooted in 1965, is designed to tackle congestion between Manchester and Sheffield. 

Work on the £228m scheme was due to start in the earlier part of 2023, but the legal challenge from a countryside charity put a halt on proceedings. After that judicial review was rejected by the High Court a few months ago, spades can now go in the ground.