GovWire

Millions of people in Greater Manchester and Stockport will benefit from reduced congestion and better connectivity thanks to nearly 34 million in government investment to deliver crucial improvements to the A34 between Cheadle and Handforth.

Today (30 November 2023), Roads Minister, Guy Opperman, visited Stockport to lay the first spades in the ground as he confirmed works can start on the A34 corridor improvement scheme.

With the A34 long plagued by traffic bottlenecks, the 33.6 million government investment will tackle congestion and reduce local journey times, particularly to Manchester Airport, and is expected to generate more than 72 million in direct economic benefits for Greater Manchester and Stockport.

The project will also benefit those who choose to walk and cycle by creating a new segregated pedestrian and cycle route running along the A34, providing new opportunities for active and sustainable travel.

The A34 improvements follow 1.2 billion announced earlier in November to repair roads across the North West, part of the unprecedented8.3 billion boost from Network Northto improve journeys for all and resurface over 5,000 miles of roads across England.

Roads Minister, Guy Opperman, said:

We have invested nearly 34 million into improving the A34, easing congestion and improving safety for local drivers while helping to improve connections to grow the economy across Stockport, Greater Manchester and the North West.

It was great to visit Cheadle today and hear first-hand how our funding will help improve one of Stockports key roads as we work hard to keep this country moving and back drivers.

On top of the governments 33.6 million funding boost, Stockport Council and local third-party funders will provide just under 10 million for a total of 43 million joint investment in the scheme.

The improvements will boost access to the Cheadle Royal Business Park and the Stanley Green business area, and include a new pedestrian subway for pupils and staff at Kingsway School, giving parents peace of mind that their kids can walk safely to school.

Councillor Mark Hunter, Leader of Stockport Council, said:

This latest milestone in this project is once again fantastic news for Stockport.

We believe this new scheme will help to encourage active travel by encouraging our residents to make healthier choices when they travel around our borough, as well as ensuring journey times are improved.

This scheme is much more than just focussing on cars: it aims to encourage and support more sustainable forms of transport.

The A34 is a vital route in the borough and this investment will bring a host of benefits to not only the A34 corridor, but Stockport as a whole

Construction will start as soon as possible and will be delivered in phases to minimise disruptions for all road users. The package of improvements is set to be completed by spring 2027.

The improvements to the A34 also come alongside thePlan for Driversannounced in October, which includes 70 million to keep traffic flowing, updating 20 mph zone guidance for England to help prevent inappropriate blanket use, and measures to speed up the rollout of electric vehicle charging.