Work on A57 improvement is welcomed

Local Transport Minister Norman Baker announced last week that work on the new £14.7 million dual carriageway can now begin.

Coun Gerald Smith, Rotherham Council’s cabinet member for regeneration and development, warmly welcomed the news describing it as “long-awaited”.

“We have been working for years to improve this stretch of road,” he said. “And now the funding jigsaw is in place so we can finally get started. Its been a long and frustrating process at times but we have now cleared the final hurdle and work should be able to start in the late summer.”

“The result will be a two kilometre stretch of dual carriageway that will improve both safety and congestion on a major route to and from the motorway.”

“It will be so much better for motorists because the road already carries high levels of traffic so needs to be as safe as possible and it is also vital for continued local regeneration in that area of the borough.”

“By early 2014, a significant piece of new highway infrastructure, costing a total of £14.7 million, should have been added to the local highway network.”

Andrew Denniff, executive director at Barnsley and Rotherham Chamber of Commerce said: “This is an excellent scheme that should not only relieve a major, long-term traffic hotspot but also give real boost for the local area by improving journeys for all motorists and creating much better access to and from the industrial and business parks at Dinnington and Kiveton Park.”

“As well as reducing congestion on the road, this work will improve road safety so this is a major benefit for the whole area.”

“The chamber has regularly discussed this project at its Transport Working group over many months and has consistently supported all the efforts to implement this major improvement road project.”

The new one-mile stretch of road will run from the M1 junction 31 to the B6463 junction.