Two years worth of developments for a busy Salford road plan to help the city cut back even further on their carbon footprint.
In July 2019, proposed plans were made to improve the A5063 Trafford Road, which is a major hub for the city of Salford, connecting to the M602 and the M60 via the A5081 and A56.
These plans are in conjunction as part of an overall scheme by Transport for Greater Manchester and Salford City Council, which will result in a cycling and walking network made up of more than 1,800 miles of routes, including 400 miles of Dutch-style segregated bike lanes.
Once finished it will be the largest-joined-up system of walking and cycling routes in the UK.
The plans which are due to finish in early 2022, are to result in improved facilities for pedestrians and cyclists, which could potentially encourage more commuters to take alternative methods of travel, rather than by car.
The A5063 Trafford Road improvements scheme is not set to start until the Summer of 2020, however local residents have already been voicing their opinions on social media.
We are desperately disappointed that our previous comments that this is going to take too long have been ignored. Whilst we support the improvements, 2 years of chaos is too high a price. It could be done faster if there was a will to make it happen faster. We expect chaos. https://t.co/YHt4P9qv83
— Salford Quays Community Forum (@SQCommForum) November 23, 2019
Residents are mainly voicing their concerns due to the fact that two years worth of roadworks over such a busy and long stretch of road is going to cause problems for their commutes and daily life, however it is not the traffic that is the main issue, there are also some major environmental issues that could arise.
Congestion, which is prevalent in Salford already at the minute due to ongoing roadworks around the city, will lead to an increase in carbon emissions.
There could be serious levels of noise pollution from the roadworks, and an increase in air pollution due to the as a result of the roadworks is possible too.
The infographic below however shows Salford’s Carbon Dioxide levels between 2005-2015.
Gareth Hughes the project manager for the proposals however said that nobody had yet had any major protests to the plans, at a drop-in conference at the Copthorne Hotel in November: “We’re not aware of any formal objections.
“We held an event a couple of months back, people were voicing their concerns, mainly over the congestion side of it.
Over the sort of short-term all the construction is going on, and there’s concern over the congestion that’s going to happen there.”
In the long-term however, the scheme will improve the local environment by removing existing visual and physical barriers in the central reserve, decluttering footways, replacing street furniture, introducing new trees and low level planting areas with the addition of ornamental grasses and wildflower areas and utilising Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) wherever possible.
There are other parts to this scheme that could ultimately reduce carbon emissions in the area, including the introduction of an innovative Cycle Optimised Protected Signals (CYCLOPS) layouts that will ultimately reduce conflict between vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists at junctions, and prevent congestion between user groups.
Another part to the scheme that could reduce carbon emissions is the reallocation of the available space at specific junctions.
This is with the aim to optimise the signal operation, bringing additions such as new and extended turning lanes and traffic islands which will help vehicle flow.
One final part of this scheme is to upgrade the current bus stops that are along Trafford Road with the aim of improving accessibility by bringing them upto the current standards set by Transport for Greater Manchester. This aims to improve service efficiency, which in turn could convince more people to travel via public transport and less by car.
If you are concerned about any environmental issues regarding the A5063 Trafford Road Improvements or any queries in general, you can contact the council via email at: TraffordRoadComms@salford.gov.uk or by telephone: 0161 779 6060
Recent Comments