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Update on the status of the SEMMMS New Relief Road
November 2008
On 25th November 2008 the government announced that an extra £1 billion will be invested in major transport projects next year to stimulate the economy by accelerating Government plans to cut congestion and significantly increase rail capacity.
Geoff Hoon, Minister for Transport said:
"I want people and business to be able to choose how and when they travel and to do so reliably, comfortably and safely. I therefore remain committed to tackling the problems of congestion and crowding, while at the same time reducing transport-related greenhouse gas emissions.
Congestion, whether it is on our roads or railways, is not just a nuisance to travellers, it is also a tax on the productivity of our businesses, and if left unchecked could become a brake on growth. That is why I am today accelerating plans to make better use of Britain's motorways and why I am also earmarking a further £300 million to remove bottlenecks and increase capacity on road links to key airports and ports.
…Of this £300 million, up to £165m will be dedicated to creating a new road link between Manchester Airport and the A6 to the east. This would provide better access to and from the UK's fourth largest airport for the 21 million passengers who use it each year, and support the continued development of this key economic asset for the North of England.”
This is a significant part of the funding needed to deliver the new road link between Manchester Airport and the A6. All the authorities involved will be anxious to take advantage of the opportunity afforded by this decision to progress this phase of the road scheme and will work with Government officials and others to bring this forward.
History of the
scheme
Stockport Council, Cheshire Council and Manchester City Council have
started work on developing the SEMMMS New Relief Road Scheme. This scheme
includes
the Stockport North – South and Poynton bypasses and the Manchester
Airport Link Road West.
In July 1998 the Government published a strategic review of the roads
programme, ‘A
New Deal for Trunk Roads in England’. This review was undertaken
as part of the development of a new integrated transport policy under the
transport White Paper ‘A New deal for Transport: Better for Everyone’.
The Government proposed that a study looking at all forms of transport
should take place and so commissioned the South East Manchester Multi Modal
Study (SEMMMS).
Following the recommendations of the study, approval was given to the
local councils by the Secretary of State for Transport to develop the major
road proposal. It forms part of a comprehensive set of measures to be introduced
in connection with an initial 5 year programme for wide ranging local improvements
that has already started. This includes measures to support regeneration,
improve safety, promote walking, cycling and public transport, enhance
access to the transport network for those with impaired mobility and protect
communities from adverse traffic impacts.
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