AMBITIOUS plans to bore a 20-mile tunnel through the Pennines as an alternative to the Woodhead Pass for road traffic have been abandoned, it has emerged.
Full details of the new proposals will be published next month as part of a 30-year blueprint for the future of transport connections across the north of England.
But it is already clear that the original idea for a long tunnel has been scrapped on the grounds of expense and the fact it would be seen as providing benefits to a limited area only.
It is expected that a tunnel will remain on the agenda, albeit covering a shorter distance, to take some road traffic away from the Woodhead A628 road, which is very congested and vulnerable to disruption caused by bad weather.
That means the tunnel is more likely to have an entrance somewhere in the Barnsley area as that would help minimise the length of the tunnel needed.
The original idea had specified a tunnel mouth only somewhere in the Sheffield district, which could have included Barnsley or other areas to the south-west of Sheffield.
Details for the scheme, along with other road and rail changes across the north, have been drawn up by the government's Transport for the North organisation.
The document, called a Strategic Transport Plan, has already won the backing of civic leaders and will go out for public consultation from January 16.
When implemented, Transport for the North say it will: "Transform the economy by improving the way both people and goods travel around the North of England."
The Woodhead route is one of seven 'corridors' where improved traffic flow is regarded as necessary to help boost the economy.
In addition to the tunnel, the proposals to be released next month would involve significant improvements to the existing Woodhead route.
An assurance has already been given that environmental issues would be a priority for whatever work is finally authorised.
Chairman John Cridland said, “Transport for the North’s vision is of a thriving North of England, where modern transport connections drive economic growth and support an excellent quality of life.
"Our plans would revolutionise travel around the North, particularly EastWest links which have previously not received enough attention, and, by extension, will improve how the region does business.
“For decades, the North has underperformed compared to the rest of England. Robust evidence shows that investing in quality infrastructure, as well as in other important areas such as education, skills development and research, could lead to more than 850,000 additional jobs in the North by 2050 and £100 billion additional Gross Value Added.
“Although what we’re looking at is investment in our roads and railways, this isn’t just about transport. It’s about ensuring that the North of England is a thriving region where people can learn, build a career and enjoy an excellent quality of life,” he said.
A concern likely to be raised when details of the new proposals are released would be the effect on traffic congestion in this area, should the Woodhead route become more attractive to drivers.
That could draw traffic from the M62 which, in addition to expected growth in vehicle numbers, could put a heavy burden on the feeder roads leading to the tunnel and carrying traffic away from the area.
