Multi-million dual carriageway scheme for Todwick blackspot

The Department for Transport has confirmed that Rotherham Borough Council will receive £11.8 million in support of its plan to improve the mile-and-a-half-long stretch of road the A57 between Todwick crossroads and the M1.

In turn, Rotherham Borough Council will contribute £2.9 million to the long-awaited scheme, which will see the notorious winding piece of road turned into a dual-carriageway.

The new scheme is slightly different from the one previously supported by the DfT.

This reflects the drop in funding from the Government, the disbanding of Yorkshire Forward, which was also contributing to the scheme, and the cuts to local government.

Under the revised scheme, the road will have a pedestrian crossing to replace the plan for a subway under the road and the road will also have a 50mph speed limit instead of the proposed original 70mph limit.

Because of the changes, the new scheme will require planning permission and the plans will be submitted to the council’s planning department of Rotherham Borough Council in the next few months.  

The council will also be seeking confirmation of the previously made compulsory purchase order and side road order, with the necessary amendments, at a public inquiry likely to be held in the summer.

Subject to these processes both being successful, it is hoped that work will finally begin in summer 2012.

Cllr Gerald Smith, the council's Cabinet member for regeneration and environment, said that despite the lengthy and often frustrating process, he now hoped the much-needed scheme will finally go ahead.

He added: “This is an important highway in the borough, carrying high levels of traffic, and it needs to be as safe as possible.

“It is also vital for continued local regeneration, so it’s good to see that the present Government agrees with our intended improvements.

“The A57 is the only so-called major road scheme to be given the go-ahead in the whole of South Yorkshire.

“The authority obviously has to go through the necessary processes, such as planning and a public enquiry, but if these are successful, work should start next year.”