Transport Action Network (TAN) has responded to the latest consultation on the M60/M62/M66 Simister Island road project — and they’ve highlighted a glaring omission.
The Haweswater Underpass, which runs beneath the M60 and connects local communities to Heaton Park and schools, is currently dark, flood-prone, unsafe, and unattractive. Despite repeated calls from the council, local transport bodies, and local campaigners, National Highways is refusing to improve it as part of the road scheme.
They claim it’s “outside the scope” of their plans — even though the motorway widening will directly impact the underpass by making it longer and closing it during works.
TAN says this is unacceptable. Leaving it untouched locks people into car use and blocks ambitions to make walking and cycling safer and easier. Both Transport for Greater Manchester and Transport for the North have called for upgrades, so why are National Highways ignoring them?
Government policy says rights of way must be improved when road schemes cause severance. TAN argues these upgrades should be fully included in the project budget, not pushed to an uncertain “future fund”.
Without action, this will just be another road scheme that promises “better journeys” for drivers but worsens things for everyone else.
Bury Independents say: it’s time to stop ignoring active travel and calls on National Highways to include improvements to Haweswater Underpass in the new Simister Island scheme. 
