Transport links
Rochdale is really well connected and easy to travel around with several railways stations, motorway junctions and metrolink stops, but we want to make our transport links even better.
Junction 19 link road
Work commenced in 2021 on the construction of a brand new link road at junction 19 of the M62. The project, one of the biggest regeneration schemes in the region, will create a new access route from the M62 directly into the Heywood employment area off Pilsworth Road.
This will reroute HGV traffic away from Heywood town centre, as well as Birch and Bowlee, significantly reducing congestion in these residential areas, while making it quicker and easier for business to move their vehicles between the motorway and Heywood and Hareshill Distribution Parks.
The new road will support the creation of 1,000 new homes, a new primary school, and over 135,000 square metres of employment space, which is expected to create around 2,800 FTE (full-time equivalent) jobs.
Cycling and walking facilities, Castleton
Greater Manchester's Bee Network project aims to develop a fully-integrated transport system for the region, that includes walking and cycling. We want to give people more travel choices, with a particular focus on sustainable travel options.
In 2021 we started work on creating a new dedicated cycle lane in Castleton. We’ve already completed a public consultation on the first phase of the scheme, which will create a lane from Castleton railway station to the Royal Toby Hotel.
As well as creating a brand new cycle lane in both directions, the project will also feature improvements made to crossing facilities, with points at Royle Barn Road/Manchester Road and Nixon Street/Manchester Road being upgraded to include dedicated cycling space. The road and pathways will also be fully resurfaced as part of the project.
We’ve made some improvements to the scheme following a public consultation. These include the expansion of off-street parking provision to include a brand new 36 space car park at Nixon Street and the opening up of the 77 space car park at Castleton Community Centre for the use of all motorists. When added to the 32 existing spaces at the car park on Albion Street, it will mean that anyone visiting the centre of Castleton will be no more than around 5 minutes’ walk away from a car park.
Work started on the first phase of the Castleton scheme in October 2022.
Cycling and walking schemes
We’ve secured over £900,000 of funding from the government’s emergency active travel scheme to create brand new cycling and walking schemes in the borough.
We’re proposing to part close St Leonard’s Street in Middleton to enable a section of the road to be reallocated as a cycling and walking provision. Planters will also be installed here to improve the appearance of the area. Work is expected to start in 2023.
We're also looking to create additional schemes as part of this and are still working through all the different proposals.
Metrolink, railway and bus plans
In the longer term, we’d like to make our transport systems even better and we’ve identified the following key priorities:
- Metrolink extension: extend the Metrolink into Middleton town centre.
- Tram-train link: create a new tram-train link to extend the Metrolink into Heywood using existing, but rarely used rail lines, with plans to extend this further into the Heywood employment area and Bury in the future.
- Rochdale Rail Corridor: this strategy sets out how we'll use our many sustainable transport links to help spearhead the next major phase of regeneration for the borough. Read the Rochdale Rail Corridor Strategy
- Rail passenger facilities: improve passenger facilities at the borough’s 5 railway stations, including improvements to the main entrance at Rochdale railway station.
- Rail electrification: support further investment into rail services and the electrification of the Calder Valley rail line.
- New railway station: construct a new railway station at Slattocks to serve planned growth at Stakehill and Hopwood Hall College.
- East Lancashire Railway extension: extend the East Lancashire heritage railway line, which currently runs from Heywood to Bury, into Castleton.
- Park and ride expansion: deliver expanded or new park and ride facilities at Rochdale, Castleton, Smithy Bridge and Littleborough railway stations.
- Bus service improvements: improve the bus corridor along Oldham Road into Rochdale town centre and a new bus service from Heywood into Manchester.