The scheme had been due to complete in the spring but was delayed following poor weather conditions and the collapse of contractor Carillion, which was delivering the works in a joint venture with Morgan Sindall. The latter subsequently took over and completed the project for Stockport, Cheshire East and Manchester City councils.

“This has been one of the largest and most complex local authority road schemes on site in the UK over recent years,” commented Stockport Council’s cabinet member for economy and regeneration Kate Butler. She said the scheme would make it “even easier” for people to travel in and around the region.

Construction of the road included seven new road junctions, improvements to a further four junctions, 11 new bridges including four railway crossings, and a shared cycle and pedestrian path running parallel to the route.

Congestion on local roads is expected to be reduced as traffic uses the more direct relief road, which bypasses Bramhall, Cheadle Hulme, Hazel Grove, Handforth, Poynton, Wythenshawe, Gatley and Heald Green.

Ahead of the opening local residents were invited to a community day which saw runners and wheelchair racers take to the road for a 5km race, before the route was opened up for people to walk and cycle at their leisure. The day culminated with a classic car parade.

The A6 to Manchester Airport Relief Road forms part of a wider 20 year South East Manchester Multi Modal Strategy, with two further road schemes planned. They are the Poynton Relief Road and the A6 to M60 Link – connecting the eastern end of the newly opened relief road with the motorway at Bredbury.

Welcoming the opening of the new relief road, a spokesman for Manchester Airport said: “Not only will it shorten journey times for passengers living in East Stockport, Cheshire and the Peak District, it will also make it easier for those communities to access the thousands of jobs that are available across the airport site.”

Image credit: Stockport Council