A556 Preferred Route Announced

[chaseracer]

Chap in charge of this was at the M54/M6T consultation today. All the 556 works are scheduled to be finished by November.

[PeterA5145]

The junctions at Bucklow Hill and Mere are now taking shape, but they really seem to have dawdled over these compared with the speed with which the main line was completed.

Oddly, as you head west on Old Hall Lane (the unclassified link road from the southern GSJ) you encounter 50 mph terminal signs just before the bridge over the M6, despite there being no evidence that the network of lanes beyond is anything but . An error, or wishful thinking on behalf of Cheshire East Council?

[Bryn666]

I'd have to find my old paperwork but I was under the impression the Old Hall Lane diversion was to be 40 returning to NSL when it rejoined the much more substandard original road.

The joys of setting speed limits off mean speeds and DMRB...

[mikehindsonevans]

In planning our trip this afternoon up to Manchester, I noticed that this new road (opened since our last trip) isn't showing on the otherwise-excellent "Traffic England" congestion-tracking website run by HE.

Mike

[Pendlemac]

In planning our trip this afternoon up to Manchester, I noticed that this new road (opened since our last trip) isn't showing on the otherwise-excellent "Traffic England" congestion-tracking website run by HE.

Mike

Their basemap comes from Ordnance Survey who don't seem to have updated their online maps with the A556 or the Heysham Link.

[Jeni]

The old route, as of yesterday...

[nowster]

The old route, as of yesterday...

It's not clear from the video whether that Little Chef is still open...

[Jeni]

It's not clear from the video whether that Little Chef is still open...

It didn't look too open - but even open Little Chef's look closed these days!

[vlad]

It's not clear from the video whether that Little Chef is still open...

It didn't look too open - but even open Little Chef's look closed these days!

When we were there in June it didn't look open but it was. It's probably still pretty much the same.

[mikehindsonevans]

We used this new road on Wednesday evening - in the dark. What an great improvement on the old route from M6J19, through Bucklow Hill, then straight onto the M56 towards the airport, avoiding the Bowden roundabout.

But who decided the speed limit for this unlit dual carriageway?

Mike

[nowster]

But who decided the speed limit for this unlit dual carriageway?

At a guess I'd suggest it's noise control, like the A55 through Colwyn Bay.

[Bryn666]

It's air quality apparently. It apparently is to raise to 70 in a few years.

[wrinkly]

It's air quality apparently. It apparently is to raise to 70 in a few years.

It was a condition of the Development Consent Order. When originally set it was expected to rise to 70 in a few years, but that was before both the VW diesel emissions cheating scandal and the latest court decisions against the UK government on air pollution. In view of those events it remains to be seen whether the increase will happen as planned.

[fras]

Well, it seems to be 70 mph + de facto when I came along there yesterday on our way back from Scottish holiday !

Incidentally, Jeni's video of the old road looked as if it was recorded at more than 30 mph, the current, (hopefully temporary), speed limit. Or are these things set so they automatically speed-up, like the old railway film "London-Brighton in 4 minutes ?

[wrinkly]

Incidentally, Jeni's video of the old road looked as if it was recorded at more than 30 mph, the current, (hopefully temporary), speed limit. Or are these things set so they automatically speed-up, like the old railway film "London-Brighton in 4 minutes ?

I imagine she does some work on them to speed them up. Some of them have evidence of differential speedups in differnt parts.

[Bryn666]

For the bajillionth time in this thread I have explained that the 30 limit is temporary.

The bit between Mere and Bucklow Hill will be 30 after completion to discourage use, and the major bits from the two A556 GSJs will be 40.

[PeterA5145]

For the bajillionth time in this thread I have explained that the 30 limit is temporary.

The bit between Mere and Bucklow Hill will be 30 after completion to discourage use, and the major bits from the two A556 GSJs will be 40.

I know - but it has to be said that both sections have what appear to be permanent pole-mounted 30 repeaters. Time will tell, I suppose.

As others have said, the speed limit on the main line seems to be widely ignored, especially the 50 through the Bowdon junction, but on the other hand I'd expect actual speeds to be even higher if it was throughout

[fras]

For the bajillionth time in this thread I have explained that the 30 limit is temporary.

The bit between Mere and Bucklow Hill will be 30 after completion to discourage use, and the major bits from the two A556 GSJs will be 40.

Thank you for your forbearance ! It's just that the 30 mph signs look very permanent. The new limits seem reasonable, as there are a lot of frontages off the old road on the 30 mph section. Of course if they'd kept to the original design with entrance/exits at the A50 bridge, they wouldn't be needing to discourage use of the old road.

[Bryn666]

They're on the existing 50 repeater poles but getting up close to them shows they're temporary signs. It was easier than having even more frames everywhere.

The split GSJs arrangement came about because of the locals and Tatton Park I think. The locals are the reason Mere junction went through about 19 designs too.

Wait until HS2 comes knocking, they'll be apoplectic...

[M4 Cardiff]

Well, it seems to be 70 mph + de facto when I came along there yesterday on our way back from Scottish holiday !

Incidentally, Jeni's video of the old road looked as if it was recorded at more than 30 mph, the current, (hopefully temporary), speed limit. Or are these things set so they automatically speed-up, like the old railway film "London-Brighton in 4 minutes ?

I used it Thursday night northbound (traffic average speed 80+!) and Friday evening southbound (traffic average speed 40), but i guess this is double what it used to be for these journeys.

great bit of road, but unless TPTB plan enforcement, the 'noise/pollution control' limit isn't worth the paper the order has been printed on!