WORK STARTS ON CONTROVERSIAL A666 BUS LANES THIS COMING MONDAY 14TH FEB

Work is set to begin on the controversial bus lanes along the arterial route along the A666 Bolton Road, Swinton, between the M60 Motorway and the southern junction with Queensway and Station Road.

The works are part of the Salford Bolton Network Improvement (SBNI) project to introduce bus lanes and will commence on Monday 14th Feb and last for a period of up to five months.

Meanwhile campaigners against the scheme have slammed the plan as unworkable, stating that it will cause major traffic delays and a decline in air quality in an already congested area. Others have questioned the logic in shortening the width of an already relatively small footpath to widen the road in order to make way for the bus lanes.

At the time City Mayor Paul Dennett provided a statement on the plans:

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“The scope of the programme was informed by an optioning exercise undertaken by TfGM (Traffic for Greater Manchester), Bolton Council and Salford City Council…

“This exercise resulted in the identification of close to 70 potential local transport interventions…which were subsequently refined based on anticipation benefits, deliverability, construction costs and the priorities of Bolton Council and Salford City Council.”

“Occupancy counts undertaken in September 2018 have identified that these services are well-used with an average of approximately 300 bus passengers using these services in the morning peak hour.”