Speed limit on main city route reduces to 30mph

A date has yet to be confirmed on when the change will come into force

The speed limit on one of Manchester's busiest roads is to be reduced from 40mph to 30mph.

This speed reduction on The Kingsway/A34, which runs along the border of Manchester and Stockport, is part of the council's road safety strategy following a surge in crashes involving pedestrians and cyclists.

The 30 mph (48 kmh) zone will run from Mosley Road to a point 83m (272ft) north of the Manchester/Stockport boundary.

The local authority has not confirmed a specific date for the change, but said work would take place over the next few weeks. They have advised motorists using the Kingsway to follow the signposted speed limit.

Councillor Tracey Rawlin said: "This has been done as part of our Active Travel Strategy which drew a clear conclusion that higher speeds on our roads result in a greater number of incidents and casualties, as well as worse air quality and pollution, as well as contributing to congestion, rather than alleviating it.

"We know that slower speeds mean greater safety and that is ultimately what we want to achieve with this strategy."

"One incident on the roads is one too many," she added.

Reaction from drivers has been mixed on social media.

One person said: "I'm hoping it will calm the speeding down but I doubt it. We could do with a few more speed cameras."

Others told Local Democracy Reporting Service this move could impact the local economy.

The road is one of eight the city council wish to amend the speed limits on

Another said: "Slow traffic helps create queues and gridlock which causes problems for workers and issues for businesses, which then invest elsewhere."

"It feels like an over reaction by out of touch councillors."

But another said the driving on that route had been "too crazy for too long" and welcomed the move and hoped for speed cameras.

This road is one of the last out of the eight main roads in Manchester planned for a speed limit reduction.