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The
Cabinet Member for Parks, Highways & Transport Services has
considered a proposal to introduce carriageway and footway widening
along the section of Marple Road between its junctions with
Offerton Road and Dooley Lane and has given approval to the
proposed scheme as detailed in the report and the main features of
which are described below, to be funded from the City Region
Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS):-
 

Widening of Marple Road, to facilitate extended left turn lanes on
Marple Road at the junctions with Offerton Road and Dooley Lane to
improve the operation of the junctions. The left turn lane to
Offerton Road would be extended by 25m and that to Dooley Lane by
44m. This would reduce incidences where vehicles in the single lane
part of the queue cannot access the left turn filter due to the
ahead movement queue and so improve junction efficiency.The
eastbound bus stop would be relocated to reflect the revised
kerbline, with provision of a raised kerb to allow for level access
to and from the buses.
Widening of the pavement along the same length as the carriageway
is being widened with a length of 95m widened to 2m in width.The
proposals require 15 trees to be removed, of varying sizes, which
are covered by a TPO. Some of the trees are showing signs of
dieback as
mentioned in Appendix B and the trees removed would be replaced in
the
vicinity. Should the scheme be approved, a comprehensive
Arboriculture and Ecology report would be commissioned to inform an
application for the trees to be removed.

Alternative options considered

An alternative scheme layout which provided
for the extension to the left turn lanes on Marple Road, at the
junctions with Offerton Road and Dooley Lane, and also provided
improved segregated pedestrian and cycle facilities on the northern
side of the carriageway was considered. This proposal would require
the use of a greater area of land which is currently within private
ownership and structural works over Torkington Brook. This option
would significantly exceed the budget available within the Bus
Pinch Points programme and was therefore unable to be progressed.
The
works proposed would not prejudice development of such a scheme in
the future should funding be identified.