A proposed 14-mile tunnel beneath the Peak District mountains could finally end the chronic traffic congestion plaguing the route between Manchester and Sheffield. The scheme, named 'Trans-Pennine Connect', would take traffic off the A628 Woodhead Pass and send it underground, cutting travel times by up to 30 minutes and restoring the Woodhead railway line.
Norway-Inspired Design Could Slash Costs
The original plans for a similar tunnel were shelved due to an estimated £10.6 billion cost. However, Future Works, a group of infrastructure experts, now believes the project can be completed for under £2 billion by using a 'drill-and-blast' method common in Norway. This technique replaces giant tunnel-boring machines with traditional mining techniques, relying on the natural strength of the rock and small expert crews. According to Michael Dnes, co-founder of Future Works, the geology of the Pennines is similar to the mountains in Norway where the world's longest road tunnel, the 24.5km Lærdal tunnel, was built for around £130 million.
Local MP Welcomes Plans
Jonathan Reynolds, MP for Stalybridge and Hyde, has long campaigned for reduced congestion around the Mottram area of Tameside. He said: “People across the area and particularly in Hollingworth know all too well the frustration of traffic congestion and the impact it has on everyday life along the A628. If these proposals can improve connectivity across the Pennines and protect the National Park while finally delivering the bypass solution local communities have been calling for over many years, that would be really welcome.” The tunnel would connect to the A57 link road scheme currently under construction, due for completion around 2030.
Environmental and Economic Benefits
By putting traffic underground, the project aims to hand the Peak District landscape back to nature. Future Works claims this could boost regional productivity and inject millions into the local economy. The Woodhead railway line, which closed to passengers in the 1970s and entirely in 1981, would also be restored alongside the tunnel.
