Tweedale Street / Manchester Road Junction

Date published: 08 November 2004

The busy junction at Tweedale Street/Manchester Road in Rochdale is in line for a major overhaul to improve safety for all those who work, live and travel in the area. Work has now commenced on the installation of traffic lights to assist drivers wanting to turn right into or out of Tweedale Street.

The scheme forms part of plans to introduce a Quality Bus Corridor to improve journeys for all who travel between Rochdale and Manchester and includes a number of features for the benefit of bus users, car drivers, pedestrians and cyclists.

To speed up journey times for buses, a new ‘Automatic Vehicle Location’ system will be introduced at the traffic lights. The system recognises when approaching buses are running late and gives them a green light.

A new toucan crossing –  where both pedestrians and cyclists share a wide and unsegregated crossing area with built-in sensors checking to see if anyone is waiting to cross or is still crossing the road – will be introduced at the north side of the junction. Cycle lanes will also be built, complete with advance cycle stop lanes at the signals.

Councillor Allen Brett, Rochdale spokesperson for Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority, welcomed the scheme, saying: “This is a very busy junction which is in real need of improvements for the safety of everyone using it. Pedestrians will benefit from easier crossing points, bus users will enjoy improved journey times and cyclists will get better protection from other traffic.

“Motorists are also in line to benefit from the new traffic lights, which will be linked to all the other signals on Manchester Road to cut down on congestion. However, our overall consideration in making these alterations at this junction is to improve safety, and we are confident that these proposals do just that.”

The Tweedale Street/Manchester Road junction improvement scheme is part of the Northern Orbital Quality Bus Corridor programme being taken forward by GMPTE, Rochdale MBC and Government Office North West.

For further information log onto www.gmpte.com or write to GMPTE Rochdale, FREEPOST MR7 116, Manchester, M1 9QL.