Not the M58 extension

[wrinkly]

Two sections of new east-west road are likely to be built in Wigan on the (partly ex-railway) alignment once reserved for the M58 extension, later known as A5225. I've no idea how they'll actually be numbered, except that they certainly won't be M58. It seems that, for the present at least, there will be a 1km gap between them.

The west section will be 2km of single carriageway from the eastern roundabout of M6 J26 to the A571 (Billinge Rd) at the junction with Foundry Lane, just before Pemberton Station. Then there'll be a 1km gap to the A49. Then there'll be a 2.5km dual carriageway, going east for almost 2km, then turning a corner to go north to meet the B5238 Chapel Lane.

The information comes from this document which is some sort of submission from Greater Manchester to the government. Pages 34-211 (by the PDF numbering) are about transport; pages 1-33 and 212-230 are about completely unrelated subjects.

On page 37, and again on pages 100-103, and again in more detail on pages 104-154, with a map on page 46, is a list of transport priorities. I believe they have got enough money to build the top seven and a bit, which includes the two sections of road in Wigan.

[rileyrob]

That 1km gap seems to already be being bridged, with half of the road in place, leading to a roundabout overlooking a Barrat Homes development. Or at least, that's what it looks like on GSV!

[si404]

So it looks something like this:


I've decided to reroute the A577 around Pemberton, and move the A49 to the new road. With the gap plugged, it could be extended at a later date to bypass Wigan on that E-W axis.

[scragend]

The information comes from this document which is some sort of submission from Greater Manchester to the government.

Do they produce a version of that document in English, or does it only exist in Jargon?

[wrinkly]

On page 37, and again on pages 100-103, and again in more detail on pages 104-154, with a map on page 46, is a list of transport priorities. I believe they have got enough money to build the top seven and a bit, which includes the two sections of road in Wigan.

I gather they have now got enough money for all the transport schemes in the submission. Makes you wonder if they should have included a few more.

[Nicholas]

These two sections of road are what Wigan Council are aiming to build as a priority as part of the borough economic development plan. The Westwood link is the first piece of the jigsaw, and is being built with some developer funding as part of plans to build an industrial estate somewhere in that area. This has started with the construction of the roundabout at the Little Lane junction on the A49.

Part of the "1km gap" has already been built by Wigan Council out of their own budgets, with the remainder tied into a development. We just need to see the development built to see the remainder of the gap filled. Hence why it isn't included in the funding.

Believe it or not, the council is aiming to get the A5225 built, just as a watered down (mostly 40-50mph single carriageway road) scheme to be constructed over something like eight stages. However, much of this is tied in with development schemes as part of the previously mentioned EDP, and could take as long as 20 to 30 years to be fully constructed... if it does get that far! It seems that priority lies west to east with this road, although a separate "Northleigh" development north of, well, Leigh could see the section between the A578 and A579 built a little sooner.

So it looks something like this:


I've decided to reroute the A577 around Pemberton, and move the A49 to the new road. With the gap plugged, it could be extended at a later date to bypass Wigan on that E-W axis.

Pretty much on the ball, except that the A49 junction is a roundabout (as mentioned above, only just completed), with a roundabout where it turns up towards Wigan town centre. There would be no junction with the B5238 as the new road is designed to take traffic off the B5238 as well as through Saddle Junction, as the B5238 is effectively just a congested short cut. This road will be reduced to 20mph with traffic calming to further deter through traffic.

[wrinkly]

Plans to go on show next month:

http://www.wigantoday.net/news/local/mo ... -1-7422677

[Gav]

pity they didnt lose that word link....

motorway consultation to go ahead would have got them all revved up lol

[Bryn666]

Complete missed opportunity in the 70s - the M58 must be one of the most under-utilised sections of the network.

[Haydn1971]

Complete missed opportunity in the 70s - the M58 must be one of the most under-utilised sections of the network.

Coughs.... M6 Toll !

[Bryn666]

OK, publicly funded network...

[Truvelo]

Had the M58 been built in its entirety, especially if the section south of Switch Island was built, would it have taken some traffic off the M62? Eccles to Worsley might have been relieved of some of the congestion that exists today. Just a thought.

[Nicholas]

Had the M58 been built in its entirety, especially if the section south of Switch Island was built, would it have taken some traffic off the M62? Eccles to Worsley might have been relieved of some of the congestion that exists today. Just a thought.

However the Braids would become the big bottleneck - it cannot cope with what goes thhrough it at the moment given the M61 whittles down to one lane southbound for a period.

[si404]

Had the M58 been built in its entirety, especially if the section south of Switch Island was built, would it have taken some traffic off the M62? Eccles to Worsley might have been relieved of some of the congestion that exists today. Just a thought.

However the Braids would become the big bottleneck - it cannot cope with what goes thhrough it at the moment given the M61 whittles down to one lane southbound for a period.

But that's an easier upgrade than Eccles, no?

[Bryn666]

Yes as all you need is paint... It just needs a 2 + 2 merge southbound as Bolton does not need 3 lanes leaving it.

In fact it should be as follows:

A666(M) - lane drop onto A580. 2 lanes continue ahead.
M61 - lane drop onto A580. 2 lanes continue ahead.

Merge 2 + 2 lanes.

Job done.... it'd be a mirror image of the northbound side which is a 2 + 2 split.

[wrinkly]

Yes as all you need is paint... It just needs a 2 + 2 merge southbound as Bolton does not need 3 lanes leaving it.

In fact it should be as follows:

A666(M) - lane drop onto A580. 2 lanes continue ahead.
M61 - lane drop onto A580. 2 lanes continue ahead.

Merge 2 + 2 lanes.

Job done.... it'd be a mirror image of the northbound side which is a 2 + 2 split.

Should have been like that from the start. I've thought so for over 40 years.

Meanwhile the Wigan consultation is now up:

https://www.wigan.gov.uk/Resident/Parki ... -Road.aspx

[Nicholas]

I see this is even more of a downgrade than the previous alignment given it is to use Leopold Street. I would love to know how Wigan Council is going to squeeze the new road through, as Leopold Street isn't particularly wide at the moment thanks to industrial units on the north side, and the housing development on the south side that has eaten into the previously protected line of the M58/A5225 route.

[Chris5156]

I see this is even more of a downgrade than the previous alignment given it is to use Leopold Street.

Yes, the A5225 that was proposed ten years ago looked like a nasty cheapo option, but compared to this it was virtually the M58 itself. It's not intended as a through route at all, it now just seems to provide better access to the M58/M6 interchange from the A49 and development land.

[Nicholas]

Yes, the A5225 that was proposed ten years ago looked like a nasty cheapo option, but compared to this it was virtually the M58 itself. It's not intended as a through route at all, it now just seems to provide better access to the M58/M6 interchange from the A49 and development land.

It is still an aspiration of Wigan Council to build an access road from the M6 towards Leigh. However, whereas previously it was something as grandoise as the A5225 by comparison to today's plans, it is entirely linked to economic development plans and unlocking potential. Consequently, the stages I list will most likely not be built in order, if they are built at all.

The M6 to A49 bit is the logical section to do first, as it would tie in with the partially-built Poolstock Relief Road. A short section can then be added in to link across to the A573. There was a plan to open this bit as buses only. Why is anyone's guess, as nobody would want to route a bus service that way round and miss out Lower Ince (and its large health centre which provides borough-wide health services).

Next section is from the A573 to Seaman Way. The bottom of Seaman Way houses an industrial estate, one that is ripe for growth given a large derelict building has fairly recently been demolished. It also provides a tie-in to the A577 at Hindley. This would help in getting an east-west axis across Wigan and bypassing the town centre. Only downside is that it would dump even more traffic onto a junction that is already struggling to cope as it is.

From there, the next stage is Seaman Way to the A578, crossing the A58. This could be split further at the A58 because of Amberswood Common. This is part of the Wigan "Greenheart", and even I would be a bit concerned if the council did this wrong, as it is a wildlife haven. The remainder would tie in with mixed use development.

The last bit is the A578 to A579 section, which could be the second bit to be built. This is now being tied into the "North Leigh" project, so expect lots of housing to be built in the vicinity.

[jackal]

A planning proposal for this 30mph single carriageway was submitted in September: https://www.wigan.gov.uk/Resident/Parki ... -Road.aspx According to the funding announcement discussed here the aim is to open in Winter 2020.

An extension of the M58 itself is under consideration as part of the Manchester North West Quadrant study.