Considerable disruption is expected in Stockport when essential repairs to the Armoury roundabout bridge are carried out. 

Network Rail is due to begin repair work in January 2025, as the bridge 'reaches the end of its natural working life'. Road closures could be in place from late 2024. 

The work is likely to impact both traffic and pedestrian travel across the borough, and could last as long as nine months. During that time, people may have to use residential streets to get across the railway line and around the borough.

At a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday (31 October), Cllr Wendy Meikle, cabinet member for children, families and education, raised concerns. 

"I know this work is needed," she said, "but I can also envisage a lot of disruption when this takes place."

Cllr Grace Baynham, cabinet member for parks, highways, and transport services, said: "We can't completely rule out any disruption, because it is, unfortunately, a major roundabout that sits on top of a railway line."

"We don't underestimate the challenge when we re-route traffic", she added.

Cllr Mark Hunter, leader of Stockport Council, emphasised that whilst "it will mean considerable inconvenience for when the work actually happens", the work was nonetheless essential. "We're not doing this for the fun of it", he said. 

The roundabout straddles a busy railway line (Image - Alasdair Perry)

This is, then, a major piece of infrastructure work that has to be undertaken. The strategy of the council is to prepare as much as possible in advance. 

Cllr Hunter said: "It is important that both the public and local ward members receive details of the scheme well in advance and can make alternative arrangements."

In a separate meeting earlier in October, Cllr Matt Wynne, leader of the Edgeley Community Association, said: "What's being planned for the Armoury roundabout is [...] going to have massive implications for local businesses for what the arrangements are going to be on match days at Stockport County.

"Potentially we're going to be herding thousands of fans through residential areas and the main housing estate in Edgeley.

"I'd like to see us really getting ahead on this - we can't have it come around and hit us. We really need to keep local members informed."

An upside, however, to the disruption, is that the new bridge will be future-proofed for a potential Metrolink line to Stockport. 

Speaking of the Metrolink at Tuesday's council meeting, deputy council leader and cabinet member for climate change and the environment, said: "I welcome the future-proofing approach for tram/train.

"When we're banging the drum for Stockport getting what it deserves, we make it more likely that that happens."

Read more about the Metrolink future-proofing HERE.

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