The roadworks came as an unpleasant surprise to locals this week
CGI of how Sudden junction in Rochdale would look once complete(Image: Rochdale council)
Roadworks, chaos and traffic are all expected to get worse now work has started on what is fast becoming known as Rochdale’s ‘spaghetti junction’.
Sudden junction connects major roads from Heywood and Castleton with Roch Valley Way and Rochdale bypass. Roadworks connected to the cycle lane installation along Manchester Road all the way to Castleton have already caused aggravation.
That work has now reached Sudden junction, which will get an ‘intelligent signal system’ in order to reduce congestion as well as road resurfacing work as part of a £5m package. But motorists will effectively have to suffer in the short-term to get what the council sees as long-term benefits.
Many locals described scenes similar to a ‘crystal maze’ when the workers descended on the junction on Monday morning.
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Local resident Madeeha Sheikh said: “On Monday morning we were horrified as residents to find so many cones and barriers placed absolutely everywhere across different access points at this junction.
“There was also lots of signage. The whole area looked like what I can describe as some type of crystal maze.
Roadworks at Sudden junction in Rochdale
“Bus stops near the junction have been closed off and access to our local Tesco has now become restricted. On Monday, what usually was a 10 to 15 minute journey locally for people turned into over an hour just to get down one side of the road.”
Locals have also bemoaned the restrictions on pedestrian routes across the junction as well as the removal of trees.
The local authority believes the work will be completed by Christmas. The council added that they are monitoring the traffic problems via CCTV and are making changes to improve the situation.
Increasing capacity southbound on the A58 and on Edinburgh Way and accelerating certain parts of the works are actions they’ve already taken.
Roadworks at Sudden junction in Rochdale
A spokesperson for Rochdale Borough Council, said: “While the work taking place along Manchester Road is challenging for people travelling through this area at the moment, it will bring significant long-term improvements once complete.
“At the heart of the scheme is the upgrade of all traffic lights to an intelligent signal system, which will respond to real time traffic flow to speed up journeys and reduce congestion along this busy route. In addition, the project, which is being funded by Transport for Greater Manchester, involves the full resurfacing of all roads and footpaths along the route.
“Other improvements include an additional right turn lane from Manchester Road onto Edinburgh Way close to Tesco, and the removal of a section of bus lane between Bolton Road and Roch Valley Way.
“The scheme has also introduced a number of additional safety features, such as new pedestrian crossings, including one close to Highfield Hospital, which previously could only be accessed via an underpass.”