UPDATE ON A57 AND LIFTING BRIDGE IN BARTON

As hundreds are expected to fill a local council meeting in Irlam this evening, Paul Dennett issues at statement explaining the current situation with regards to situation with the new lifting bridge in Barton.

Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett said:

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“I totally sympathise with local residents and commuters. It has been an incredibly frustrating time for them and it is totally unacceptable that Peel have still given us no date for opening of the bridge

“I’d like to reassure residents that the matter is our highest priority and we are using all our available resources to get the new road and bridge open as swiftly as possible.

“The council’s most senior officers and politicians are meeting daily to seek an urgent resolution and we are also working very closely with Trafford Borough Council.”

 

The works on the A57 were formally approved in August 2009 for the development of Port Salford and have taken longer than anticipated due the collapse of the lifting bridge and the contractor getting approval from Highways England.The City Mayor continued: 

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“We have used our legal powers around highways, restricting hours of works and using traffic management as much as possible, while enabling works to continue. But residents have still felt a massive impact.

“The network will only work as designed when the new road and bridge are open and at the moment we do not have a date for its opening. We are expecting Peel to open and operate the bridge as soon as it is complete and are working hard to achieve that.

“I’d also like to quash any rumours about plans to change access to junction 11 of the M60. Detailed plans would need to be submitted and there is no prospect of this happening in the near future.

“Please be assured, Salford City Council wants this bridge to be opened imminently and is doing everything possible to make this happen.”