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"An innovative G-Junction is planned to improve safety and reliability at the busy Bucklow Hill junction on the A556 Chester Road, a key trunk road linking the M6 and M56 motorways.
"A series of public exhibitions are planned as part of a public consultation exercise to gauge the views of motorists and local residents to the ?1.5million improvements.
"The proposed D-shaped loop on land opposite the Swan Hotel will be used by northbound traffic to access Mereside Road, ending the present right turn. Southbound drivers wanting to enter Bucklow Hill Lane or Chapel Lane will reach them by entering the loop from a feeder lane on Chester Road."
It will be interesting to see that - a kind of glorified jughandle. Right-turning movements in both directions are certainly a major safety and congestion problem at that junction.
Regards,
Peter
“The human race divides politically into those who want people to be controlled and those who have no such desire.” – Robert A. Heinlein
<<A 15 Year Route Management Strategy for the A556 is currently been drawn up and the proposals will also be on view at the Mere Court Hotel. This scheme forms part of the current actions plan for the Route Management Strategy>>
This para is at the foot of the HA Press Release.Is it anything new or is it merely a summary of the various alternatives put forward so far?
Bob
A "G" junction shaped like a letter "D" which looks like a jug handle.
That may well be a good description of it, but I can't figure it out! Any drawings?
Derek
Is this similar to what they've just done south of the Tyne Bridge in Newcastle? Southbound traffic coming over the bridge on the A167 used to be able to turn right (West) onto the A184. Now that traffic has to turn left and comes round in a loop then straight over (at grade) the A167.
(Incidentally, the signing is awful - the through route of the A167 through Low Fell and southwards isn't mentioned on the new signs at all. But the big loop sign is quite pretty!)
The 15 year plan seems to be upgrading to 50mph dual carriageway - presumably all on-line.
If I'm not mistaken, there is already one "G-junction" along the A556, going Northbound - possibly at the Mere Crossroads, but could be elsewhere.
<<If I'm not mistaken, there is already one "G-junction" along the A556, going Northbound - possibly at the Mere Crossroads, but could be elsewhere.>>
It's south of M6 J19 by the Smoker Inn. It's really just a standard jughandle where right-turning traffic at a T-junction diverts off to the left first - the proposed G-junction by the Swan is rather more complex.
Regards,
Peter
“The human race divides politically into those who want people to be controlled and those who have no such desire.” – Robert A. Heinlein
From the leaflet:
Current Action Plan Being Progressed
These are improvement options, that have been identified during the RMS consultation process, which are being progressed by the Highways Agency, their maintaining agents, or Cheshire County Council. The options include:
Monitoring and review of the use of safety cameras.
Improvement of traffic signals at M6 Junction 19, Mere Junction, Bucklow Hill Junction, and at Bowdon Roundabout.
Replacement of surfacing and kerbs between Bucklow Hill and Bowdon Roundabout.
Signing review on the A556.
Improvements on the approach to Bowdon Roundabout.
Bucklow Hill G-turn and crossing facilities.
Banning of right turns at Rostherne Lane.
Safety improvements at the "Nags Head".
Review of bus stops on the A556. </UL> As the RMS will consider a 15 year period, a number of options are being considered for short, medium and long term improvements to the route. These are as follows:
Short Term (0 - 3 years)
Full footway for the whole length of the route with crossing points where necessary.
Full crossing facilities at Mere (A50) Junction.
Possible right turn ban at Moss Lane Junction*.
Possible right turn ban at Mere Golf Club*. </UL> *These options would only be considered after the construction of the planned G-turn at Bucklow Hill.
Medium Term Options (3 - 10 years)
Dual carriageway between Mere and Bucklow Hill.
Convert the existing road to 50mph dual carriageway.
Provision of a separate service road to access existing properties.
Construction of a verge/mound to separate dual carriageway and service road, providing noise protection for properties. </UL>
Mere Junction improvements
Allow access for a new service road.
Diversion of the A50 Manchester Road to form new access to upgraded dual carriageway. </UL>
Upgrade G-turn at Bucklow Hill.
Provide emergency refuge lay-bys at regular points along the route.
Capacity/Safety upgrade to M6 Junction 19 and Bowdon Roundabout. </UL> Long Term Vision (10-15 years)
To meet the needs and objectives of the route to 2019 (with possible widening of the M6 up to Junction 19) and to prevent traffic diverting onto local roads, the following measures may be necessary:
Dual carriageway for the whole route.
Convert the remaining sections of the route to 50mph.
Removal of as many access points as possible.
Connecting service roads to carry local traffic and pedestrians/cyclists.</UL>
Improvements to Mere Junction
Upgrade the medium term option for Mere Junction to a 'two level' junction located nearer the M6 motorway.
Diversion of the A50 to new junction location with full access to the new A556 dual carriageway.</UL>
Convert any remaining accesses to 'left in and left out' only.
Two level junction at Rostherne Lane/Millington Lane.
Allows access to local roads.
Facilitates crossing for non-motorised road users.</UL>
Free flow links to M6 Junction 19 and M56 Junctions 7/8
Unrestricted direct access to the new dual carriageway from existing motorways.</UL></UL>
<< * Free flow links to M6 Junction 19 and M56 Junctions 7/8
* Unrestricted direct access to the new dual carriageway from existing motorways.>>
Hmm, sounds like their ultimate objective is an on-line upgrade by stealth, particularly when read in conjunction with the ideas for resiting and grade separating the Mere junction.
The major bottleneck is the Bowdon roundabout where northbound traffic heading for the M56 and Manchester has to negotiate two sets of traffic lights.
It would still be a poor road compared to the A556(M), though.
Regards,
Peter
“The human race divides politically into those who want people to be controlled and those who have no such desire.” – Robert A. Heinlein
This is going to be a major 'on line' upgrade. by providing a service road and a 'verge/mound' between it and the upraded A556 the road is going to be shifted over quite a lot as lot's of those big houses at the Mere end almost front directly on the road, and I can't see there owners giving up any of there front garden for the improvements.
what does a 'Capacity/Safety upgrade to M6 Junction 19' entail any way. it's not a particualy small island, and adding freeflow slips in the right directions isn't the simpelest of jobs.
Would this 'G' junction be like the one on the A580 at Boothstown?
It all sounds like an enormus long term botch to me anyway, get the link built, reduce the existing road and be done with it.
