Motorists face another month of delays as work on the runway tunnels on the A538 is now scheduled to finish mid-November.
Wendy Sinfield, of Manchester Airport Group, confirmed at the Wilmslow Town Council meeting on Monday, 16th October, that the tunnels will re-open on November 15th.
The delay is a result of a van fire, which occured on February 28th, which meant that soot that was lining the tunnels had to be cleaned from the walls before paint could be applied.
A spokesperson for Manchester Airport said "Although the damage to the concrete was superficial (matching the assessment made in February) the damage caused by smoke/soot throughout the fabric of the tunnel was extensive. Before the 'bore' could be treated with a new surface treatment this 'soot' had to be cleared. The machinery first deployed was ineffective and failed to remove the 'soot'. It took time to source specialist advice and locate alternative equipment and then longer than had been planned to remove the soot."
Work on the A538 junction improvement scheme to provide additional capacity on the road and improve access to Sunbank Lane is anticipated to continue until December or January.
Wendy Sinfield confirmed that traffic disruption along the stretch of road adjacent the Amazon and DHL warehouses will continue until the lights come down in the early part of next year.
She explained "The junction near Amazon was always planned to happen but when the site was built we didn't anticipate Amazon and all those people coming so quickly. So unfortunately what that meant was that the junction and the widening of that junction had to happen more quickly than anticipated so we anticipate the junction being finished in January, or it could be December but that sort of time it will be finished."
On completion, the road will be widened to a dual-carriageway and the existing Sunbank Lane junction upgraded to signal control to access the Runway Visitor Park and the World Logistics Hub.
Councillor Frank McCarthy said "We'd all be very grateful for that to be done as soon as possible. Coming out of Wilmslow the actual queue starts from Wilmslow, the other day I measured and it was two and a half miles. I wonder sometimes when you get to the other end and you see a vehicle that says 'traffic management' do those people actually know that the queue to the right is two and a half miles long. I sincerely hope someone is telling them that getting out of Wilmslow is becoming chronic. "
He added "So I hoped we'd actually see some work going on there recently, after long periods of apparently nothing taking place at all, and now they are going to be working methodically right the way through to get it done as fast as possible."
Comments
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If Wendy has been quoted, it’s a pretty poor response.
I not only blame the planning office, but also the council(s) as a whole and the councillors / mps that represent us for letting it continue for so long and with little information and accountability.
Jokers
A couple of early evenings last week, Thursday, and either Wednesday or Friday, there was no evidence of work being carried out.
Well, I say early evening.I meant late afternoons, - well, mid-afternoon: about 4.00pm on both occasions.
So, where were the contractors to resolve the problem? why hadn't they checked the operation before the departed? and why had wasn't there a shift working mid afternoon if this is meant to be a high priority project?
And who is holding these contractors to account...? Certainly our delightful CEC don't seem to give a stuff. But then, I would not expect anything else. Deplorable, useless people.
Peter Evans: The Amazon traffic lights are in Manchester City Council's area, not CEC.
been doing proper jobs requiring foresight,ability,skill and responsibility they would have been causing national disasters and killing people on a daily basis. The Lord works in mysterious ways.
Then, as now, we will queue through the tunnel to get to the M56 but will have the added irritation of drivers overtaking us through the tunnel to "merge" as the road becomes single carriageway........cant wait!
I am very pleased about the temporary single lane road because it is infuriating at peak hour when many overtake in the tunnel hoping to push in at the other end instead of queuing like the rest. Some of us wrongly straddle the lanes to kerb their selfishness and make them wait their turn.
This now requires all to formally queue. The problem is the Amazon lights and a wider filter junction could be made at Amsxon’s Expense. Do they pay fair taxes to the UK yet? If so I may use them.
Raymond Walker
Ms. Sinfield did not mention the planned extension of runway operating times.