Member Article

Manchester Airport relief road scheme a step closer

The Manchester Airport Relief Road has moved a step closer with the submission of planning application for the scheme.

Partners Cheshire East, Stockport and Manchester City councils are working together to unlock the economic potential of south east Manchester and east Cheshire and reduce congestion for the benefit of residents.

The £290m project has also taken a further major step forward with the appointment of the official contractor – Carillion Morgan Sindall.

Subject to planning approval, the proposed scheme will provide about 10km of dual carriageway, linking the A6 at Hazel Grove to the eastern end of the existing A555 at Woodford Road, Bramhall and from the western end of the existing A555 at Wilmslow Road, Handforth, to Manchester Airport.

The partnership believes that the new road will help the potential growth of Manchester Airport and the proposed Airport City as well as areas of Stockport, Manchester and Cheshire East.

Councillor Michael Jones, Leader of Cheshire East Council, said: “I am extremely pleased with these hugely positive steps forward in the delivery of this project.

“This will be a key scheme in our aims to further develop the economy in the northern parts of Cheshire East and surrounding area.”

Councillor Sue Derbyshire, Leader of Stockport Council, said: “These are significant steps in the delivery of the A6 to Manchester Airport Relief Road.

“Subject to planning approval, we look forward to working closely with Carillion and Morgan Sindall to deliver the scheme, which will improve the local economy and improve lives within Stockport by reducing congestion on local roads.”

Gary Crisp, contracts director for the Carillion Morgan Sindall joint venture, said: “We are delighted to have been appointed to support the development of this vital scheme to improve the road network south of Manchester.

“Carillion and Morgan Sindall have an established joint venture history, having worked together successfully on the £209m Dishforth to Leeming contract to upgrade 22 kilometres of existing A1, which was completed on-time last year.”

The news follows the announcement that the Department for Transport has awarded programme entry status for the scheme and a commitment of government funding, subject to completion of all the remaining statutory procedures.

The funding has been secured through a combination of £165m of specific Department for Transport capital grant, £105m of additional capital grant funding from the Government through the recently approved Greater Manchester Earn Back model, and £20m of Local Transport Plan (LTP) funding.

Subject to planning approval, construction of the road is expected to take place between 2014 and 2017.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .