New M62 link road in Heywood to open in November

A major new road connecting junction 19 of the M62 motorway with Pilsworth Road in Heywood is due to open in November.

Since it was first put forward in 2016, the development has been highly controversial due to completely covering private greenbelt land. The link road forms part of a wider development for South Heywood, with new housing and employment developments in the area to the existing road network.

Hundreds of objections were received – mainly about protecting the greenbelt – before the application was put before the Secretary of State after a two-hour planning meeting in 2018.

The road was built with over £20m private and public sector funding and is set to benefit local residents and businesses by delivering cuts to journey times and business costs.

The council has applied to name the new route Queen Elizabeth II Way in honour of the late head of state.

The new road should remove between 8,760 and up to 35,770 heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) away from Heywood town centre every year, as calculated as part of a study by development partner Russells.

It is also expected to save an estimated 4,700km per day of journeys by providing a direct route from the motorway into the business parks at Hareshill and Pilsworth, where currently they have to go via Simister Island (junction 18 of the M62).

According to the assessment, by creating safer journeys the new road could also lead to a reduction in accidents that cost the economy up to £5million over 60 years.

 

 

Councillor Daniel Meredith, cabinet member for highways and housing for Rochdale Borough Council, said: “The opening of the new link road gives an opportunity to alleviate congestion and reduce journeys by creating a more efficient route.

“It should lead to vehicles no longer relying on the town centre to navigate their journeys, creating a better environment for residents as the local roads become much less busy.”

The road forms a key element of the Atom Valley mayoral development zone which will stimulate innovation and investment.
 

Read more: Atom Valley plans given green light by Greater Manchester leadersPublished: 03 August 2022

Councillor Andrew Western, Greater Manchester’s lead for regeneration, said: “Connectivity is absolutely central to our plans for inclusive and sustainable growth. The new road will be an important part of the infrastructure supporting Atom Valley, driving forward innovation and advanced manufacturing in Greater Manchester.”

The new route means commercial and other vehicles will no longer have to divert to the M66 motorway via smaller local roads, reducing journey lengths by tens of thousands of miles every year.

Over a 60-year period this equates to £156million combined savings from reduced journeys and £25million less operating costs.