Cost of replacing Shalesmoor roundabout in Sheffield climbs to £30m and could take two years
Replacing one of Sheffield’s busiest roundabouts will cost up to £30m and could take two years - amid uncertainty as to whether it is needed.
Shalesmoor roundabout is set to be replaced by traffic lights and ‘free flowing’ left turns, the Sheffield Council has announced.
Local politicians said the project would upgrade a “dreadful” junction in a fast growing area.
But it is set to cost between £27m and £30m and take up to 24 months, The Star can reveal.
In a statement, Sheffield City Council said there were several processes to go through before the scheme was approved for funding but it was “great news” that the Department for Transport was “retaining the project in their programme.”
South Yorkshire mayor Oliver Coppard hailed the news as a “win” that would upgrade access for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists and make bus and tram journeys more reliable.
He added: “Neepsend, Shalesmoor and Kelham are all growing quickly. Work is already underway on huge numbers of homes all set to be built over the next few years, so upgrading the transport infrastructure couldn’t be more important.”
In February, the city council announced plans for more than 1,100 homes for up to 4,000 people in Neepsend and Furnace Hill, close to Shalesmoor. Builders are already on site at nearby developments on Nursery Street, Wicker, the former Cannon Brewery in Neepsend and two in Kelham Island.
But some Star readers have expressed concerns at the potential for lengthy disruption - and whether the scheme is even necessary.
Roundabouts at Park Square, Meadowhead and Brook Hill have all been cited as having similar or worse problems with congestion and safety.
Council planners say Shalesmoor is a ‘particularly complex location’ with a tram line, major roads and pedestrian crossings, which must all remain ‘safe and functional’ throughout the works. And they are working on a traffic management plan to avoid gridlock.
It comes after motorists endured months of disruption for the construction of a Dutch Roundabout and bike lanes which reduced road capacity around West Bar.
Some claim the works pushed cars on to the roads at Shalesmoor, which now face months of roadworks.