The route is a major link between Cheshire, Stockport and Manchester
The A34 is a major route through Stockport.
People in Stockport have called for changes to the A34 – saying there is ‘more traffic than ever before’ on the road.
The route is a major link between Cheshire, Stockport and Manchester used by commuters and local residents.
But a safety review by Stockport council earlier this year put forward the case for a lower speed limit along one section of the road.
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In mid-August, part of the A34 between Broadway and the Cheadle Royal junction will change from 50mph to 40mph in both directions.
A map of the new speed limit on a section of the A34 in Stockport.
Electronic speed warning signs will be installed to highlight the new speed limit, plus new signs on the northbound carriageway bridge.
As motorists make their way over the M60, Manchester council has recently changed the speed limit on Kingsway to 30mph as drivers cross the city boundary.
Stockport council is also leading a £33m scheme to improve walking and cycling around the wider A34 corridor.
This includes a designated walking and cycling route built along the stretch of the road where the new speed limit is being brought in.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service asked people in Cheadle about their experience using the road.
Dave Cooper, a resident near the A34.
“There’s more and more traffic using the A34, more than ever before, it’s a big commuter avenue,” said 69-year-old Dave Cooper, who lives near Broadway.
“You’ve got to use it to get to Wilmslow, and if people from Wilmslow are going to Manchester they’ve got no choice but to go on the A34.
“The trouble with slowing down the traffic is it could make a lot more pollution because the traffic is taking longer to get around. It’s regularly really busy, it’s horrible during rush-hour.”
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Lynsey Lowdon, 40, added: “I come to Cheadle for shopping but live in Wilmslow. The A34 is highly congested and there’s a lot of traffic. Even at quiet times it tends to be really busy.
Lynsey Lowdon, a regular shopper in Cheadle near the A34.
“It can also take 25 minutes to get from one end of Cheadle High Street to the other during busy times.
“I think more cycling is great in an ideal world, but people are not really going to do that because a lot of them have kids and it’s often wet out. It’s a very dangerous road to be a cyclist on.”
She also said lowering the speed limit on the A34 could cause more problems with congestion due to cars taking longer to reach their destinations.
Appropriate speed limits are a key part of the Greater Manchester-wide plan to reduce road deaths in the region, known as vision zero.
This sets out the need for ‘speed limits appropriate to the function of the road, understanding what the risks might be.’
Stockport council said its plans for the A34 are about making it safer for everyone.
Coun Grace Baynham, the council’s lead on highways, said: “Reducing the speed limit on this stretch of the A34 from 50mph to 40mph is a crucial step in improving safety for all road users, including pedestrians and cyclists.
“Lower speeds reduce the risk and severity of accidents, making our roads safer for everyone.
“Additionally, by encouraging smoother traffic flow, this change will help to improve air quality in the area, supporting Stockport’s wider commitment to tackling air pollution and promoting healthier communities.
“We want to ensure that our roads are not only efficient but also safe and environmentally responsible for residents and commuters alike.”