A555 MAELR/Hazel Grove and Poynton Bypass

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Type: New road for use by all traffic
Status: In planning or on hold
Authority: Stockport MBC; Cheshire East Council; Manchester City Council
Cost: £ 300m
Finance: Central Government
Timescale: 2010-2012
Length: 14.4 km (8.9 miles)

Scheme Outline

Construction of a new dual carriageway bypass from M60 j25, around the south of Hazel Grove, connecting to the existing A555; also a westward extension of the A555 to meet the M56 Manchester Airport spur road. This is a scaled-down version of plans drawn up in the 1970's for a motorway on the same line, becoming a grade-separated dual carriageway west from Hazel Grove. Its resurrection is due to the SEMMMS multi-modal study.

In June 2007, central government declined to fund the road and its construction in its present guise looked unlikely. However, it has appeared in various guises since 1962, so it's unsurprising that it has risen from the dead once more.

In November 2008, as part of the Treasury's attempts to spend its way out of recession, money has been provided to build the western half of the scheme between the airport and the A6. The funding will form only part of the original SEMMMS Study. The November 2008 funding proposal have shown that the Road will only be built between A6 in Hazel Grove to Manchester Airport and the M56 via the current A555 with the 'missing link' sections built. There will be no Poynton bypass linking the A523 south of Poynton.

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Progress

26 November 2008	The Transport Secretary has announced that the scheme would be fast tracked by government and that £165m had been allocated.
10 December 2008	Revised route announced.
22 May 2009	The scheme now has full funding from the A6 Hazel Grove to Manchester Airport.
24 April 2010	Work is now starting at the Manchester Airport end of the new road.
22 September 2010	No sign of work having started, but ecological surveys are apparently ongoing.
28 November 2011	The Chancellor (and local MP) George Osborne listed the project as one to benefit from funding in the National Infrastructure Plan. At present, the only building work happening along the route is construction of the Metrolink Airport line.
27 March 2012	According to the Manchester Evening News, local councils are to request that the DfT names the new road, the Queen Elizabeth II Way in honour of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. No details were given about a construction timetable though.