A disused railway bridge is Manchester is to be demolished and replaced in Manchester as part of a consultation for a proposed road widening scheme to tackle a congestion pinch point on a key route into Manchester.

The bridge currently spans the busy A57 Hyde Road and reduces a 300m stretch of the road from four lanes to two, restricting traffic flow significantly at peak times.

The proposed work will take place between Wall Way and Far Lane, in the Gorton area.

Plans involve the removal of the existing bridge, allowing the road to become a dual carriageway in both directions, with a new bridge which will connect to the Fallowfield Loop route for cyclists and pedestrians. An extra-wide footway is proposed for the north side of the road, which would have the potential to become a segregated pedestrian and cycle way.

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The scheme consultation is open until Thursday 19 September.

A drop-in event is being held on Thursday 05 September at Gorton Community Centre, 543 Abbey Hey Lane, Manchester M18 8PF, to allow interested parties to ask questions, find out more, view the plans in detail and provide their feedback and suggestions.

Work is expected to begin this winter, with an expected duration of up to 12 months. It is expected that two lanes of traffic will be maintained for the majority of the work, but a weekend road closure will be required to allow the existing bridge to be demolished in the early stages of the programme, plus a closure towards the end of the project to allow the new bridge to be lifted in.

(CD)