A34 Alderley Edge Bypass

The Rev · Post by **The Rev** » Sun Nov 18, 2007 23:12

First post on here as I don't get as much time to look around/post as I'd like.

Noticed in our local free paper this week that finally the go-ahead has been given for work to commence on the badly needed A34 Alderley Edge Bypass. If any of you have ever driven down the A34 from the M60, on the bypass around Heald Green, Handforth and Wilmslow, you'll notice how abrupt the bypass comes to an end and dumps all the traffic onto a single carriageway right through the middle of Alderley village. The queues can be bad any time of day.

The work could begin Spring 08, opening set for Spring 09.
More info at http://www.wilmslowexpress.co.uk/news/s ... le_cleared

Ben

highwaymana31 · Post by **highwaymana31** » Sun Nov 18, 2007 23:46

Lets hope that the rubber stamping goes ahead. I've been caught up in that one on more than a few occasions

Nicholas · Post by **Nicholas** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 19:40

All I can say is about time too! That has to be one of North Cheshire's worst bottlenecks and has always seemed stupid to have the by-pass crash to a halt with all the traffic having to funnel through Alderley Edge.

And welcome to SABRE, Rev!

Ian198 · Post by **Ian198** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 20:42

If there is a "gap" in the NR timetable over Christmas 2008 to build a tunnel, how long will this last?

Plan here.

Birchington · Post by **Birchington** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 23:43

This is excellent news. It seems a pity though that the Harden Park roundabout will not be GSJ'd as this would surely improve traffic flow.

PeterA5145 · Post by **PeterA5145** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 00:34

A major problem with this scheme is that there is no junction with the A535, which will mean that somewhere in the region of 33% of the through traffic will still need to go very close to the centre of Alderley Edge. This is an inexplicable oversight.

Most of my journeys down the Handforth/Wilmslow bypass end up on the A535 heading for the M6, rather than on the A34.

A303Paul · Post by **A303Paul** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 07:17

Is it just me or do others regard the A34 as running from the M3 to the M40 with references to the A34 in Cheshire seeming very strange?

Owing to the monster gap in the middle and the A34 not being a route of any importance unti lnorth of Birmingham the A34 really is a duplicate A road.

Steven · Post by **Steven** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 10:51

A303Paul wrote:Is it just me or do others regard the A34 as running from the M3 to the M40 with references to the A34 in Cheshire seeming very strange?

Owing to the monster gap in the middle and the A34 not being a route of any importance unti lnorth of Birmingham the A34 really is a duplicate A road.

Only if you're a southerner! It's perfectly sensible to those of us up here...

Chris Bertram · Post by **Chris Bertram** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 11:06

Steven wrote:
A303Paul wrote:Is it just me or do others regard the A34 as running from the M3 to the M40 with references to the A34 in Cheshire seeming very strange?

Owing to the monster gap in the middle and the A34 not being a route of any importance unti lnorth of Birmingham the A34 really is a duplicate A road.
Only if you're a southerner! It's perfectly sensible to those of us up here...

Sort of ... but he does have a point, based on the modern situation. The A34 was, as we know, originally from Winchester to Oxford, shortly afterwards extended to Birmingham and Manchester to form the strategic trunk road from the south coast ports to two of our most important industrial areas. This was before any motorways existed.

Which way would you to Birmingham and Manchester these days? You'd use the A34 as far as Wendlebury, for sure, but thereafter you'd use M40, M42, M6 (to Birmingham, and beyond), A556, M56 and then whatever local road you need. You would be most unlikely to use the A34, and really the Birmingham to Manchester stretch of this road no longer fulfils its original purpose.

ISTR that the Birmingham to Walsall bit used to be A455. This number is now free again - perhaps it could be reused in its original location?

Truvelo · Post by **Truvelo** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 15:54

PeterA5145 wrote:A major problem with this scheme is that there is no junction with the A535, which will mean that somewhere in the region of 33% of the through traffic will still need to go very close to the centre of Alderley Edge. This is an inexplicable oversight.

Most of my journeys down the Handforth/Wilmslow bypass end up on the A535 heading for the M6, rather than on the A34.

I think it's better this way than have a roundabout at every road it crosses. Too many bypasses are wrecked by having too many roundabouts, in particular the A34 to the north

There could well be a more sinister reason for having no connection to the A535 - to deter people from using it as a back route to the M6. I've used this route on many occasions when there's an incident on the M6 or M56.

To provide access to the A535 without adding a roundabout would be easy, as only north facing A34 access is needed a simple loop from the A34 to the A535 is needed and a short slip from the A535 to the A34 for traffic in the opposite direction, no extra bridges are required.

sotonsteve · Post by **sotonsteve** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 16:26

I've never known the A34 through Alderley Edge to be all that busy, but regardless of that, good news. It'll be better for both through traffic and locals, and I welcome it.

Shame some of the bypasses down south don't get sorted out though, like on the more important A27 at Arundel and Worthing.

GrahamP · Post by **GrahamP** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 17:52

Steven wrote:
A303Paul wrote:Is it just me or do others regard the A34 as running from the M3 to the M40 with references to the A34 in Cheshire seeming very strange?

Owing to the monster gap in the middle and the A34 not being a route of any importance unti lnorth of Birmingham the A34 really is a duplicate A road.
Only if you're a southerner! It's perfectly sensible to those of us up here...

I'm less Southern than you, and in my mental map, the A34 has only run from the M3 to the M40 since the M40 opened - before that it just ran from the A31 to the M4.

The Rev · Post by **The Rev** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 20:08

The biggest bottleneck in Alderley is traffic turning down Brook Lane which is the next junction north of the end of the A535 Ryleys Lane. This is one of the main routes in the area to Knutsford through Mobberley. Often when you are past this junction the traffic begins to flow again.

The biggest problem for the village is the fact that the main street is split by a primary route. Ryleys Lane always tends to flow but London Road (A34) can be horrendous to get across from one side of the village to the other. Apparently the reason that the original extension to the bypass was never built was due to those living at Nether Alderley (south of the main village) not wanting a tunnel under the railway.

If there's any more news I'll keep you posted ... if I get the time!

M45 Tailback · Post by **M45 Tailback** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 20:47

GrahamP wrote:I'm less Southern than you, and in my mental map, the A34 has only run from the M3 to the M40 since the M40 opened - before that it just ran from the A31 to the M4.

No. The A34 was renumbered A44 between Oxford and Chipping Norton and A3400 from there to M42 Jn 4 upon the opening of the M40 in 1991. Part of the A43 was renumbered A34. The A34 has run to Manchester since at least the 1940s!!

The Rev · Post by **The Rev** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 20:09

The local free paper has just been delivered and looks like the bypass is on hold again due to a single person from Nether Alderley logging a complaint in the High Court. The article doesn't appear to be on the Wilmslow Express website yet. Progress could apparently be delayed for up to a year ... and then of course the whole process would start again in finding a slot in Network Rail's plans.

Ah well, looks like Alderley is stuck with the traffic for a good while yet - good job I know the back ways round it!

highwaymana31 · Post by **highwaymana31** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 20:32

The Rev wrote:The local free paper has just been delivered and looks like the bypass is on hold again due to a single person from Nether Alderley logging a complaint in the High Court. The article doesn't appear to be on the Wilmslow Express website yet. Progress could apparently be delayed for up to a year ... and then of course the whole process would start again in finding a slot in Network Rail's plans.

Ah well, looks like Alderley is stuck with the traffic for a good while yet - good job I know the back ways round it!

Do the Hamiltons still live there?

woodlea1 · Post by **woodlea1** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 16:35

The DoT always referred to the A34 as the Winchester to Preston Trunk Road. See here. I can find no evidence that it ever got beyond Manchester

Steven · Post by **Steven** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 16:46

woodlea1 wrote:The DoT always referred to the A34 as the Winchester to Preston Trunk Road. See here. I can find no evidence that it ever got beyond Manchester

It does go beyond Manchester - but only as far as the A6 in Salford!

Trunk Roads don't necessarily follow a single numbered route - see the recent thread on the Trunk Roads Act for more details.

PeterA5145 · Post by **PeterA5145** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 13:20

This scheme has been given the go-ahead by the Government today.

Manchester Evening News

Work will begin next month, it says.

Jeni · Post by **Jeni** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 13:52

It will be just over three miles long and have two single-lane carriageways linking the A34 Wilmslow Road at Whitehall Brook Bridge in the north to Welsh Row bridge south of Nether Alderley.

Please tell me thats a mistake!