Congestion charge roads and fees anounced

Date article online: 30/05/2007

Proposals which could see Rochdale motorists paying up £5 a day to travel into and around Manchester during rush hour have been announced.

The congestion charge plans target 15 roads into Manchester, and if given government approval the first charges will be levied in five years.

The plans will see two congestion zones being set up, with one covering Manchester city centre and another outer zone roughly following the M60 and so affecting the thousands of Oldham motorists who drive into and around the city.

Operating during the morning and afternoon rush hour, the proposals will see motorists entering the outer zone being subjected to a £2 charge with a further £1 fee for entering the city. Drivers will also pay £1 when they leave each zone.

Greater Manchester is one of 10 areas in the country which has received government money to develop congestion-beating plans in the hope of getting funding from the government’s Transport Innovation Fund (TIF).

Getting TIF money for transport improvements, such as new Metrolink routes to Oldham and Rochdale, Ashton and Manchester airport, is largely dependent on local authorities producing a road pricing or congestion charging scheme.