Graham appointed to £73M Stockport town centre access upgrade

Highway connectivity is set to improve in Stockport, as civil engineering specialist Graham is appointed to a £13M transport upgrade.

Stockport Council has contracted Graham – via the Highways England CDF Lot 2 Framework – to design and construct the brand new Travis Brow link road. This much-needed infrastructure, which links the A6 to the M60 in Stockport, forms part of a £73M Town Centre Access Plan to improve connectivity and ease congestion across the town centre proper.

That plan was masterminded by Stockport Council in partnership with Transport for Greater Manchester, with Growth Deal funding secured through the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

The Travis Brow link comprises a new classified road with retaining walls which channel the highway under an iconic Network Rail asset, the Stockport Viaduct – a Grade II listed structure dating back to the 1840s.

From a civil engineering perspective, the project presents a significant challenge. At various points, the link road will interface with Stockport Viaduct, a disused railway tunnel and the A6 – part of the Key Route Network in Greater Manchester. Graham remains unfazed however.

“We are delighted that Graham is the contractor of choice to complete the works for the new Travis Brow Link Road,” commented Leo Martin, Executive Director at Graham.

“This link road development forms a key part of an extensive access plan for Stockport town centre, with high-levels of expertise required in order to complete the work – especially when you take into consideration the Grade II listed viaduct and tunnel.”

Councillor Kate Butler, Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration at Stockport Council, added: “The new link road is vital to our vision of continuing to improve transport across Stockport town centre. It will provide motorists with a new route into and around Stockport, reducing journey times and improving connectivity for thousands of motorists a year.”

Graham will now work alongside Mott MacDonald – together with highway specialist George Cox & Sons – to deliver the new link road, with work anticipated to end in August 2018.

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