Why are the roads in Rochdale flowing freely this week?

John Kay

Halifax Road, Shawclough Road, Whitworth Road, Manchester Road, all snarled up with traffic so badly during the rush hour that long suffering motorists now expect a five minute journey to work to take an hour - well not so this week! And why is this week so very different? Why are all Rochdale's main strategic roads flowing so freely this week? Why is even Sudden roundabout relatively traffic light at peak times despite the ongoing long delayed roadworks? Simple - it is half term and all the parents who normally ferry their children to school in cars are not clogging the roads.

Littleborough resident, John Kay, who is a director of Rochdale Online, travels along Halifax Road to his solicitors practice in Rochdale town centre each day and said: "Isn't it wonderful this week that we have free flowing traffic, well almost, which enables us to travel to work without long nose to tail queues.
 
"There can be no doubt that Rochdale's Congestion comes from the additional cars which result from the "school run".
 
"Our traffic experts can require no further proof of the cause of our gridlock. Now they must come up with the remedy if Rochdale is not to get the reputation of a "No Go" area.
 
"Yellow Buses, safe walkways and cycle routes must be high on the agenda.
 
"Parents can also do their part. Why not car share so that you fill the empty seats and share the cost of petrol. That must be a win/win. It might also help save the planet from global warming."