New roads could ease pressure on Rotherham motorway junctions

EXTRA road routes could be built between Rotherham and Sheffield to ease pressure on motorway junctions.

Engineering consultants WSP will lead a study into reducing congestion around the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District.

It will explore ways of shifting local traffic from junctions 33 and 34 of the M1 as the area develops into an “innovation corridor”.

WSP technical director Mike Holmes said: “Current capacity issues are only set to increase as more businesses and residents locate in the area, which already suffers from a lack of good public transport links. 

“It’s vital that we find deliverable solutions to improve connectivity by road and sustainable transport options, whilst anticipating the future growth of the site.”

Sheffield City Council, which appointed WSP, announced £1.4 million to improve road capacity last November. A business case will be sent to the Government in 2018.