Improving Townhead junction

The new Townhead junction layout

Work is about to start on the notoriously busy Townhead junction – around the Ukrainian Catholic Church. In an attempt to alleviate the serious congestion the current gyratory layout will be replaced with a signal controlled junction with more lanes.

When the work is complete the changes should reduce congestion, improve bus journey times, provide pedestrians and cyclists with better facilities and reduce the significant number of accidents that have occurred at the junction over the last few years.

Pedestrians will have improved crossing facilities as the St Mary’s Gate subway is to be filled in. Cyclists will get advanced stop lines and toucan crossings.

A new attractive public space is to be created to the south of the church that will provide pedestrians with a new and improved gateway into the town centre along Yorkshire Street. The work to design this improved public space is ongoing and will be developed further in conjunction with plans to transform the whole of Rochdale’s town centre around the bus station and Wheatsheaf Centre.

Arrangements will be made to reduce any disruption to road users and local residents. Access to homes and businesses will be maintained at all times and any premises affected by the work will be liaised with directly.

No works on the highway will be carried out that cause disruption to traffic on the run to, and over, the Christmas period. Also any temporary road layouts around Townhead will be kept to a minimum over the Easter period to reduce disruption to the community and local businesses.

Timetable:

• Work begins - November 2007
• Installation of pedestrian crossings on Yorkshire Street - End of March 2008
• Fill in the subway under St Mary’s Gate - End of March 2008
• Convert the gyratory into a signal controlled junction and add more lanes - End of March 2008
• Provide new bus stops with raised kerbs for easier access to buses - End of May 2008
• Add advanced stop lines for increased safety for cyclists - End of June 2008
  Final completion of signal controlled junction - July 2008