New Relief Road Scheme

Belly,

I believe this is your specialist area and you can probably read between the lines, but the SEMMS website tells us that this is a "road scheme that has dual 2 – lane carriageways except on the Poynton Bypass". This is what prompted my dual carriageway comment.

I also note that junctions will be "Roundabout or signal junctions with local road network".  I presume that this is why there are so many junctions. Where ever it crosses another road we get a junction.

I still think that having lots of junctions will ease the congestion. Drivers will enter/exit the relief road at the nearest junction rather than all be funnelled to the motorway network. For example Bents Lane will be a quiet road again, just as it was before the M60 was opened. Also we will be rid of the nightmare of leaving the M60 at Bredbury.

Thinking about the above though. This means that much of the traffic from Bents Lane, and that that travels to Stockport to join the M60, will be on the relief road, which has lots of roundabouts and traffic signals. So we just move the congestion to the relief road. Or is the plan that half the traffic uses the original routes, so they flow better, and half uses the relief road.

The more I think about this the more it resembles the A34 Handforth bypass. Lots of roundabouts with queues at rush hour but at least the local roads are quieter.

I do like your proposals for curing our traffic problems in Marple. Could be a little tricky to implement though.

Harry,

You might want to re-consider the breath holding - I think it is going to happen this time... but it won't be here much before 2010!

Also - it ain't going to be dual carriageway - unfortunately!

What worries me about this road is the number of intermediate junctions proposed. Why three junctions near to the M60 connection point for example. All thats going to do is encourage local traffic onto the new road - thus diluting its strategic 'bypass' role.

A solution to existing Marple traffic problems?

1. Ban all 'school run' trips - anybody had a nice easy ride out of Marple this morning due to the half term hols?
2. Re-open rail line to Stockport / Complete Brinnington Curve.
3. Employ hit man to take out 'two jags' Prescott and get some proper investment into public transport. How about using all that nice road tax his government collects on transport rather than spending it all on unrelated things like defence, etc?

Radical - no just fed up to the back teeth of CENTRAL government under-investment. What chance do poor old Stockport MBC have of changing anything?

[Dave]

My recollection is that Bents Lane, Bredbury got much more congested when the M60 was completed, and this is what normally happens when you build a new road - everyone wants to use it and the approach roads get even busier.  I think we face exactly the same prospect with this latest proposal.

The 'MM' in SEMMMS stands for 'multi-modal'.  That means road and rail.  Other suburbs of Stockport - Hazel Grove, Bramhall, Cheadle Hulme - have all got direct rail services to Stockport, whilst we haven't.  Until that is put right, the roads are surely just going to carry on getting worse.

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I would have thought that the existence of this proposed road would alleviate some of the problems.

Currently much of the traffic at rush hour is heading to or from the motorway. So, from Marple, we are travelling via Offerton or Bredbury. Both of these routes are a nightmare, but there are no alternatives if one needs to get to the M60. Unfortunately public transport, no matter how much it is improved, and it DOES need improving, is not an option for some of us.

If we have a relief road, with various entry/exit points it will serve to dilute the traffic on any particular existing route, such as Bents Lane. Granted it may not have any effect on Stockport Road in Marple, we will still need to get out of the village, but that is just a minor problem in the morning. Just think how much easier it would be to get to the airport or M56 if the relief road was there and one could join it at Offerton Road and then have dual carriageway all the way.

One thing does worry me. The FAQ on the web site states "the relief road is being designed to cater for existing traffic that is currently causing congestion". But by the time its built traffic levels will be much higher and it will need widening (Just like the M6 Toll, but thats another rant).

However. An ex-colleague of mine had a house near to the Travellers Call, on Stockport Road West, that was compulsory purchased 28 years ago to make way for this road. It is still standing.  I moved to this area 21 years ago. When I bought a house in Hazel Grove my solicitor warned me that the Blue Route, as it was called then, would be passing about 500 yards away. Its the same route they are talking about now.
I don't think I'll hold my breath.

Totally agree with you on this one......roads just seem to breed more traffic....

The only solution is to improve public transport and your idea is excellent. I noticed they mention about the metrolink coming to Marple, but lets face it by the time they finish this road the idea of improving PT will have gone out of the window.

I think they need to improve PT first then maybe consider building the road.

[Dave]

This is a really good site, which includes a clear map, and  everyone concerned about the traffic problems around our area (who isn't?) should have a good look and take the opportunty to respond.  

I'm no traffic expert, but I think this new road could just make things even worse.  If you read the explanatory notes on the site, it's all about relieving traffic problems in Bramhall, Wythenshawe, Hazel Grove etc - Marple and Romiley do not get a mention.  Everyone knows now that when you build new roads, the effect is to clog up the surrounding ones even more.  Unless something is done to get us out of our cars between Romiley/Marple and Stockport, I fear this new road will make Offerton and Bredbury even more congested (is this possible?).

The solution is not obvious, but my vote is for the Brinnington Curve, linking 'our' railway line at Reddish Vale with the Stockport - Guide Bridge line.  This could give journey times to Stockport of 18 minutes from Marple or Rose Hill, and 15 Minutes from Romiley, at any time of day!  Think of that.......

Seriously, it does appear that this area is being disregarded in these proposals, and we need to make our voice heard loud and clear.

Dave    

[admin]

To learn more about the New Relief Road Scheme and to make your own comments on-line directly to the Local Authority visit: http://www.u-to-us.com/semmms/

Of course any comments about the scheme in relation to Marple are welcome here too.