Work starts on A630 'Parkway' improvement

Aerial view of A630 and M1 junction 33.
The upgrade will make journeys quicker, reduce congestion and improve air quality.

Work is starting on the multi-million pound upgrade of the A630 which links Rotherham and Sheffield.

The road, officially the Rotherham Gateway, but also known as the Parkway, will benefit from a £46 million upgrade and see the road transformed from the existing layout into a dual three-lane carriageway. This will markedly increase capacity on the road and, in-turn, improve journey reliability while reducing travel time. Junction 33, on the intersecting M1, will also benefit from carriageway improvements and resurfacing.

Other benefits include a 50 mph speed limit to improve road safety and cut carbon emissions which feeds into Rotherham Council’s Clean Air Zone plans.

Rotherham Council’s Cabinet Member for Jobs and the Local Economy, Cllr Denise Lelliott said: “We can’t wait to see work get underway on the transformation of the Parkway. The road is vital in connecting Rotherham with Sheffield and links to the M1.

“The works will make a real difference to thousands of commuters’ journeys in the region every day and will also feed into our ongoing work to improve the air quality in the borough.”

Work will take place in six principal phases, incorporating the use of narrow running lanes to ensure traffic disruption is kept to a minimum:

Phase 1 – remove the existing safety barrier on A630 section, install new drainage and a road surface in the current central reservation

Phase 2 – work on the verge of A630 westbound carriageway, including construction of the retaining wall, new drainage, highway pavement, street lighting and safety barriers

Phase 3 – work begins on the M1 Junction 33 roundabout

Phase 4 – work on the verge of A630 eastbound carriageway, including construction of the retaining wall, new drainage, highway pavement, street lighting and safety barriers

Phase 5 – installation of new barrier in the central reservation of the A630

Phase 6 – final resurfacing on M1 J33 roundabout

The phase of works improving the M1 Junction 33 will run from the summer 2021 onwards.

The improvements, which are being funded through Central Government from the Local Growth Fund, will create three lanes in each direction from the Catcliffe Junction to the junction with the M1 with modifications to the M1 J33 roundabout. Both the northbound and southbound slip roads from the M1 to junction 33 will be expanded to four lanes in consultation with Highways England.

New street lighting, carriageway surfaces and signs are set to be installed to improve safety for drivers. The scheme is designed to stay within the existing highway boundary to avoid impacting adjacent land and properties. Drainage will be improved to create resilience to flooding in consultation with the Environment Agency and will include sympathetic landscaping with new trees and hedgerows where appropriate.

The Council has been working alongside Balfour Beatty on the design of the A630 improvement scheme since early 2018 along with their strategic design partner WSP. Balfour Beatty will utilise an expert local supply chain throughout project duration which will result in a significant use of small and medium enterprises within a 40-mile radius, providing employment opportunities including apprentice and graduate positions, ensuring the scheme leaves a lasting positive legacy for the local community.

Thomas Edgcumbe, Managing Director for Balfour Beatty’s Regional North and Midlands business, said: “We are proud to be delivering this significant scheme which, upon completion, will improve journey times and reduce congestion for the travelling public on this vital A-road. Through local SME spend, the scheme will also help to boost the economy in the Rotherham and Sheffield areas.”

Chris Jones, Head of Highways at WSP, said: “WSP has worked collaboratively alongside Balfour Beatty since 2018 on this important project so we’re delighted that Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council has signalled it can proceed. By expanding the road from two lanes to three, the A630 Parkway improvement scheme will relieve congestion and boost connectivity between Rotherham and Sheffield, as well as support increased air quality in the local area.”

The Advanced Manufacturing Park and Innovation District which is located alongside the Parkway will also benefit from the works. The site is seeing continued expansion and the funding will ensure an improved infrastructure is in place to support these developments.

The project is due to start in February 2021 and expected to finish in the Autumn of 2022.

You can find the latest information and travel advice at www.rotherham.gov.uk/parkway-upgrade

Published: 2nd February 2021