Barbara Keeley MP has called on transport bosses to take urgent steps to ease traffic congestion in and around Worsley, Walkden, Salford, Swinton, Irlam, Cadishead and Eccles.
Barbara renewed her calls for action after the road network in Salford, Bury and parts of Trafford and Manchester came to a standstill on Wednesday 13 January.
A lorry crash on the M62 at Junction 18, along with a jobs fair at Manchester Airport and a football match at Manchester City’s Etihad stadium contributed to horrendous congestion on the city’s main routes.
Pictures: Delays across Salford after M62 closed in four-vehicle lorry smash
Four people suffered minor injuries but parts of the M62 were closed for six hours
Local roads suffered the knock-on effects leaving drivers stuck in their cars well into the evening.
And the normally busy A580 East Lancs, as well as the A6 through Irlams o’th Height towards Manchester, saw complete gridlock for hours.
Keeley said: “Over the last year the volume of traffic in Salford has increased by 3.6%.
“This is three times more than the Greater Manchester average of 1.1%.
“That is a significant increase and it is affecting people’s lives. Clearly there are no simple solutions but I refuse to accept that there is nothing that can be done.”
Barbara had previously called on transport bosses to hold an urgent Traffic Summit – but was disappointed by the results of a December meeting.
At the time they said they felt unable to offer any short or medium-term solutions.
The MP is now calling on transport bosses to look again and come up with solutions that will help ease local congestion.
She told SalfordOnline.com: “The local road network in and around Worsley and Eccles South is at breaking point.
“The incidents on Wednesday highlight the fact that our roads do not have the resilience to cope with any extra pressures.”
Keeley has launched a consulation to see if local people have any constructive ideas on how Salford’s traffic congestion problems could be solved.
This could be changes to junctions, or ways to improve traffic flow around pinch-points.
You can take the survey here – www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/77FG9XN – and the deadline for comments is 5pm on Friday 22nd January.
Suggestions will be put to Salford and Greater Manchester transport bosses for consideration.
“This problem is only going to get worse, which is why we need action now,” said Keeley.
“I believe we have to try to do whatever we can to help improve the lives of local people stuck in this dreadful situation. I will continue to campaign on this issue until the necessary action is taken.”
