Significant spending required to relieve congestion at Townhead junction

The new Townhead junction layout

The serious issue of alleviating traffic jams at Townhead junction requires additional land and "significant RMBC 'investment'" [more accurately, spending!] to resolve, according to Councillor Irene Davidson.

Work on the notoriously busy Townhead junction – around the Ukrainian Catholic Church - was completed by Impact Partnership only 18 months ago.

At the time the Council said replacing the former gyratory layout with a signal controlled junction with more lanes would alleviate the serious congestion and improve bus journey times.

It was soon clear that congestion was worse and not better, and in a rash promise former Council leader Councillor Alan Taylor said the Council would not pursue any other highways scheme until the Townhead issue was resolved - the issue has not been resolved but the council has continued to pursue other schemes, leading Conservative Leader Councillor Ashley Dearnley to describe Councillor Taylor's promise as "spin and nonsense".

Residents near the junction, particularly those off Whitworth Road near Rochdale Infirmary are finding their previously quiet streets being used as a 'rat run' by frustrated drivers. Councillor Dearnley said drivers could not be blamed for their frustration; such is the congestion at the junction. He also said the severe congestion acted as a disincentive to businesses coming into the town and shoppers shopping in the town centre.

Councillor Dearnley was adamant that more money should not have to be spent to do what was promised would be done 18 months ago. He said: "We are told if we want more capacity at the junction it is going to cost a lot of money - that is unacceptable. We should not have to spend more money to make the scheme that was promised would work, work."

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/1442/improving-townhead-junction