A555 Stockport news

[Euan]

The only Streetview I've heard of is Google Streetview. I didn't know that showed any OS mapping?

This Streetmap site shows OS mapping:

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/

I use it more often than any mapping site except possibly the Google one.

It's the map layer titled "OS StreetView" within the blue side menu on SABRE Maps. Although it is found as a secondary layer within the "OpenStreetMap" option, oddly enough.

[wrinkly]

It's the map layer titled "OS StreetView" within the blue side menu on SABRE Maps. Although it is found as a secondary layer within the "OpenStreetMap" option, oddly enough.

Gosh, all the times I've looked at that menu and it's never really registered!

[Helvellyn]

So, this has been open for a while now. I don't suppose any thought's being given to dealing with how it's screwed up the traffic on the A6? Queue back to Disley this morning where it used to be straight through at that time.

[danfw194]

Why has this been designated as a primary road? I don't know the area well, but surely the majority of traffic using it is local? Especially given some of poorly conceived junctions; nobody on a long distance run is going want to use it, nevermind the fact that it goes nowhere.

So, this has been open for a while now. I don't suppose any thought's being given to dealing with how it's screwed up the traffic on the A6? Queue back to Disley this morning where it used to be straight through at that time.

Another road scheme where no consideration or money is set aside for the terminus junction(s). Having a D2 stop dead at an at-grade signalised junction like this is embarrassing. Surely even a roundabout would have less objectionable?

[wrinkly]

Why has this been designated as a primary road? I don't know the area well, but surely the majority of traffic using it is local? Especially given some of poorly conceived junctions; nobody on a long distance run is going want to use it, nevermind the fact that it goes nowhere.

I would turn that upside down and say it would have been astonishing if it had not been a primary route. It connects a motorway and three other primary routes, two of which are former trunk roads. It also links to the busiest airport in the UK outside SE England. It's a modern dual carriageway throughout, and partially grade separated. It's of much better quality than most of the other primary routes in the area. It's on the line of the formerly proposed Manchester outer ring road, and may yet be extended to link with the M60 at J25.

Also, incidentally, its middle section is over 20 years old and has been primary since it was built.

[mikehindsonevans]

Why has this been designated as a primary road? I don't know the area well, but surely the majority of traffic using it is local? Especially given some of poorly conceived junctions; nobody on a long distance run is going want to use it, nevermind the fact that it goes nowhere.

I would turn that upside down and say it would have been astonishing if it had not been a primary route. It connects a motorway and three other primary routes, two of which are former trunk roads. It also links to the busiest airport in the UK outside SE England. It's a modern dual carriageway throughout, and partially grade separated. It's of much better quality than most of the other primary routes in the area. It's on the line of the formerly proposed Manchester outer ring road, and may yet be extended to link with the M60 at J25.

Also, incidentally, its middle section is over 20 years old and has been primary since it was built.

Sorry "danfw194", but I am with "wrinkly" - this is ABSOLUTELY a primary route, being a sensible bypass of the overloaded M60 and linking several of the arterial routes which radiate out from Manchester.

Frankly, Her Ladyship and I don't give a flying whatever about its title - we just rejoice that it is (finally!!! ) open.
No road engineer has a monopoly on designing junctions which confuse the users - look at the current thread following the M40 wrong-way carnage.
Don't care what it is called, just enjoy driving on it!
We live in Hampshire (currently) and we *will* be driving on it! (We fill up at Tesco Handforth Dean en-route to the Airport Marriott) - our route north reflects Her ladyship's affection for Jodrell Bank)
Mike

[Helvellyn]

Another road scheme where no consideration or money is set aside for the terminus junction(s). Having a D2 stop dead at an at-grade signalised junction like this is embarrassing. Surely even a roundabout would have less objectionable?

That junction isn't actually too bad (yet), it's the impact a bit elsewhere - the queue this morning, back to Disley again, was from the lights at High Lane. It's always done that at those lights earlier, so maybe it's just more traffic and if those went the queue would just form off the new ones. Still putting the blame on this road since it started right from when it opened and regard the whole thing as little more than a nuisance.

It's queued back from the junction in the evening a bit but not too badly, at least at the time I go.

Why has this been designated as a primary road? I don't know the area well, but surely the majority of traffic using it is local? Especially given some of poorly conceived junctions; nobody on a long distance run is going want to use it, nevermind the fact that it goes nowhere.

A6 south to the airport. As a route it's reasonable to expect a fair chunk of non-local traffic. Regional if not national significance maybe.

[avtur]

.... Sorry "danfw194", but I am with "wrinkly" - this is ABSOLUTELY a primary route, being a sensible bypass of the overloaded M60 and linking several of the arterial routes which radiate out from Manchester....

I'm also of this opinion, perhaps there is a clue in the name of the project that brought the road into being, the "A6MARR".

[poshbakerloo]

Why has this been designated as a primary road? I don't know the area well, but surely the majority of traffic using it is local? Especially given some of poorly conceived junctions; nobody on a long distance run is going want to use it, nevermind the fact that it goes nowhere.

So, this has been open for a while now. I don't suppose any thought's being given to dealing with how it's screwed up the traffic on the A6? Queue back to Disley this morning where it used to be straight through at that time.

Another road scheme where no consideration or money is set aside for the terminus junction(s). Having a D2 stop dead at an at-grade signalised junction like this is embarrassing. Surely even a roundabout would have less objectionable?

Google Maps thinks its a long distance route from Sheffield to Liverpool (JL Airport)

[Robert Kilcoyne]

Why has this been designated as a primary road? I don't know the area well, but surely the majority of traffic using it is local? Especially given some of poorly conceived junctions; nobody on a long distance run is going want to use it, nevermind the fact that it goes nowhere.

So, this has been open for a while now. I don't suppose any thought's being given to dealing with how it's screwed up the traffic on the A6? Queue back to Disley this morning where it used to be straight through at that time.

Another road scheme where no consideration or money is set aside for the terminus junction(s). Having a D2 stop dead at an at-grade signalised junction like this is embarrassing. Surely even a roundabout would have less objectionable?

Google Maps thinks its a long distance route from Sheffield to Liverpool (JL Airport)

As noted above, the completion of the A555 has created congestion issues in Disley, and it will maybe strengthen the case for bypassing Furness Vale, Disley and High Lane so that the Whaley Bridge/Chapel bypass can be better linked to the A555. The A555 should be the western part of a new regional strategic route connecting the M1 near Chesterfield with Manchester Airport and the M56 / M6.

[danfw194]

Fair do's people, appreciate the feedback.

Is it primary all the way to the airport? Google maps' colouring suggests it stops being primary at Handforth, can anyone confirm/deny that?

[wrinkly]

It's primary all the way to the M56 spur, but the west end (west of Shadowmoss Road), which was fully dualled in 2014, was unclassified and non-primary until last month when the rest opened.

[Bryn666]

Why has this been designated as a primary road? I don't know the area well, but surely the majority of traffic using it is local? Especially given some of poorly conceived junctions; nobody on a long distance run is going want to use it, nevermind the fact that it goes nowhere.

So, this has been open for a while now. I don't suppose any thought's being given to dealing with how it's screwed up the traffic on the A6? Queue back to Disley this morning where it used to be straight through at that time.

Another road scheme where no consideration or money is set aside for the terminus junction(s). Having a D2 stop dead at an at-grade signalised junction like this is embarrassing. Surely even a roundabout would have less objectionable?

A roundabout would have meant an almost continual flow off the A555 onto the A6 towards Buxton. The A6 would therefore be queued right back through Hazel Grove in that case and signals would have quickly followed.

It's likely to be extended to the M60 and the argument over that bit will be another Newbury in the making as that side of Stockport is a cross between Tubbs from Royston Vasey and nouveau riche... it doesn't want new road for non local people.

[RickyB_uk]

Fair do's people, appreciate the feedback.

Is it primary all the way to the airport? Google maps' colouring suggests it stops being primary at Handforth, can anyone confirm/deny that?

It's got green signs all the way and at both ends. Google are still playing catch-up. Note that they've actually de-classified the M56 Airport spur at their end which is clearly an error.

[martin2345uk]

They still haven’t cleaned the grey masking paint off some of the signs on the new road...

[wrinkly]

I didn't know there was going to be an opening ceremony featuring Grayling.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/thou ... rport-road

[martin2345uk]

The cones are all cleared on the A34/A555 and Stanley Green roundabouts and the signals are now active.

Came through northbound at 4:30 this evening and it was completely free flowing, interested to see how it handles 5-6pm...

Of course I came crashing to a halt before Cheadle Royal in the run up to the Gatley crossroads.

[Euan]

I didn't know there was going to be an opening ceremony featuring Grayling.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/thou ... rport-road

The road has now been open for a month - that seems like quite a while to wait before "officially" opening the road. Surely an official ceremony would typically take place within a few days of a new road opening?

[wrinkly]

It varies. Sometimes there's a ceremony on the day of the actual opening to traffic, sometimes a while later. I suppose a main problem is that important people need to be booked a long time in advance and the road may be finished earler or later than expected. Sometimes finishing work continues after the ceremony.

[Bryn666]

I didn't know there was going to be an opening ceremony featuring Grayling.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/thou ... rport-road

Oh it's cursed forever then