A34 / A560 Gatley

Crossroads :
Issues and Options
Friday 20th February 2015

Format of the Evening

Welcome / Introductions - 15 minutes

Presentation- 30 minutes
Q&A - 15 minutes
Workshop - 30 minutes
Summary of issues / next steps /
feedback - 15 minutes

Understanding the Network

M60 Junction 3 Off-slip
A34 / M60 Junction 3
A34 / A560 Junction
Not standalone junctions
Interaction between all
three
3

Roles and Responsibilities

M60 Part of the Strategic Road Network
owned by the Highways Agency, with
operational maintenance by Balfour Beatty
Mott MacDonald
Signals on the A34 / M60 Junction 3 off-slip
owned by the Highways Agency, maintained
and operated by TfGM Urban Traffic Control
A34 Main Radial Route for Greater Manchester
owned by Stockport MBC
A34 / A560 Crossroads Signal operation
managed by TfGM Urban Traffic Control
4

Issues
Gatley Crossroads operates over
capacity
Within TfGMs top 5 busiest junctions
in Greater Manchester
Highways Agency have significant
operational and safety concerns with
blocking back onto the M60
Increase in M60 off-slip traffic volumes
between 2010-2014
5

Change in M60 Off-Slip Traffic

Volumes 2010-2014
Peak Hour
PM
AM

Peak Period
PM
AM

+25 +22 +19

+3%
%
%
%
-3%

+15
+1% +9%
%

History of Improvements SMBC

Extension of 3 lane queuing northbound
1999
Re-alignment of the central reserve to extend
the 3 lane queue capacity northbound.
Right turns at Broadway and Linton Road
were closed off for safety reasons.

History of Improvements SMBC

A34 Gatley Crossroads 2008

Providing additional road space for 3 lanes to form

at the approach on Gatley Road (Gatley village
side) at the junction with A34 Kingsway.
In conjunction with the above, the scheme also
incorporated controlled pedestrian facilities on
Gatley Road, (Gatley village side) using a new
traffic island to accommodate a staggered crossing.

History of Improvements SMBC

A34 Kingsway, Cheadle Lane Destination
Amendments 2013
Amended lane markings on the northbound A34
Kingsway approach to the M60 slip road.
The scheme involved better lane road markings/signs
to encourage vehicles heading towards the motorway
junctions and Manchester to get into the correct lane
earlier than they currently do, i.e. on the approach to
the A34/Gatley Road traffic signals. This has helped
reduce some congestion and the associated lane
weaving at this critical point on the network.
10

11

History of Improvements SMBC

A34 Gatley Crossroads Widening of the Right Turn
Pockets 2014
An issue raised by many residents is that when youre waiting to
turn right at the front of the queue (Gatley or Cheadle Road),
you cant see the oncoming traffic as your view is blocked by
people waiting to turn right from the other direction.
That means there could be a gap in the traffic, but you cant
take advantage of it because you dont see it until too late.
To help with that problem, SMBC widened the right turn pockets
which if people pull up to the new lines, theyll have better
visibility and be able to spot those gaps.

12

13

Planned Work - SMBC

Barnes Hospital Re-development
Proposed conversion and re-development of the
Barnes Hospital site for residential use. The works
involve improvement to the existing priority junction
to bring it up to current design standards.
The layout will facilitate right turns out of the site
being made in two movements and improve the
pedestrian and cycle crossing point across the
access. There is no timetable yet for this work which
it is anticipated would take about a month on site.
14

15

Planned Work - SMBC

A34 Eden Park Roundabout Signalisation of
Roundabout 2015
The Eden Park (formerly Bradshaw Hall) site has a difficult
exit onto the A34. Residents complain that continuous
traffic flow southbound prevents a safe exit. To address
this it is proposed to provide signals on the roundabout to
create gaps for vehicles to exit Eden Park Road.
The signals will be implemented Summer 2015, take about
2 months on site and are being paid for by the developers
of an extension to the housing estate on the site.

16

17

Planned Work - SMBC

A6-MARR Signalisation of Stanley Green and
A34 / A555 Roundabout 2016
As part of the A6-MARR development a scheme has been
designed to fully signalise the roundabouts including
significant widening work which includes a 3 lane section on
the A34 between the junctions. The works, when completed,
will address existing traffic and predicted background traffic
flow increases in the area but are not designed to
accommodate significant development traffic flows.
These works are due on site in February 2015 and will finish
in June 2017.
18

19

History of Improvements
Highways Agency
A34 / M60 off-slip signalisation
and widening
Installation of signals and creation of junction on the
A34(S) & M60 off-slip.
Purpose of the scheme;
Aid merging traffic joining the A34 and better control the
M60 off-slip queues,
Improve slip road and M60 mainline safety, and
Improve pedestrian safety via installation of pedestrian
signals.
20

21

M60 Safety Implications

25 accidents at M60 Junction 3
between 2009 and 2012
1 Fatal, 2 Serious, 22 Slight
No recorded incidents of any
category since the scheme was
operational in December 2012.

22

Planned Work Highways

Agency
M60
SMART
Motorways
Scheme

23

Previously Considered
Proposals
Right turn arrows and separately
staged A560 arms
Five different methods of
implementing these proposals have
been considered
Traffic analysis of these proposals
consistently yields the same
conclusions
24

Scenario One
Provision of separately staged
phases for the Gatley and Cheadle
arms of the junction

25

157
%
91%

52%

71
%

41%

Scenario One Change in Queue

Lengths (compared to existing

Scenarios Two and Three

Provision of indicative right turn
arrow from Gatley arm only (S2) and
Cheadle arm only (S3). Green time
taken from N/S arms

27

74%

21%

58
%

9%

33%

Scenario Two Change in Queue

Lengths (compared to existing

71%

32%

42%

5%

36%

Scenario Three Change in

Queue Lengths (compared to

Scenarios Four and Five

Provision of indicative right turn
arrow from Gatley arm only (S4) and
Cheadle arm only (S5). Green time
taken from E/W arms

30

3%

0%

75%

56
%

0%

Scenario Four Change in Queue

Lengths (compared to existing

3%

0%

46%

33
%

0%

Scenario Five Change in Queue

Lengths (compared to existing

Further Proposed & Planned Short to

Medium Term Improvements

CCTV monitoring on M60 off-slip

Keep Clear on South Park egress
M60 off-slip realignment
Improved traffic control system

33

Longer Term Work

M60 South East Quadrant Study
(Summer 2015)
What should we include?

34

M60 South East Quadrant

Study
M60
J25
M60
J26
M60
J27

M60
J1

M60
M60
J4
M56

M60
J2
M60
J3

Workshop

Roundtable discussions
Thoughts
Ideas
Proposals

36