Improving journeys: Bury to Rochdale

We’re investing into the route between Bury, Heywood and Rochdale for a few different reasons:​

• Heywood is remote from the rapid transit network (consisting of tram and high-speed train services), so good bus links are really important to help people get to work, schools, college and universities and to meet up with friends and family. ​
• Improved links for people travelling on public transport or who walk, wheel or cycle will help to deliver more job opportunities and more homes in the town centres. ​
• Investing in the route provides good opportunities to improve reliability, speed and the comfort of bus journeys.

Bury-Rochdale QBT project will improve the 471 bus route that goes between Bolton, Bury, Heywood and Rochdale Town Centres along the A58

This project focuses on the route through Heywood Town Centre. We are also considering walking, wheeling and cycling improvements on nearby roads and areas.

Yes, we are working closely with Rochdale Council to deliver this scheme. It is also supported by Greater Manchester Combined Authority, which represents all 10 local authorities in Greater Manchester.

Yes, as well as updating the people that live in these areas we will engage and consult with key stakeholders including businesses, schools and colleges, community centres, health facilities and other local organisations as we develop the proposals.

Any organisations that are likely to be impacted by construction works or the final scheme will be contacted directly, by letter or by email, as part of our engagement and consultation processes in 2024.

We want to help increase the number of people traveling on buses, improve the performance of bus services, make waiting for the bus more comfortable and help people feel safer and improve the walking and cycling networks across Bury, Heywood and Rochdale.

Not only will this improve people’s experience of using buses, and encourage more people to use them, it will help us to tackle some of the big challenges we face as a region, including congestion and poor air quality. It will also support economic growth and regeneration within Heywood and improve access to opportunities for everyone. ​

As part of our work to improve journeys, we will help buses get where they need to go faster and with less delays. 

There could be new bus gates or bus lanes or bus only sections of road so buses can avoid traffic jams and get to the front of queues.

Buses may be given priority at traffic lights and junctions and the location of stops may be changed so buses don’t have to pull in and out of traffic each time they pick up passengers.

There could also be more enforcement of parking regulations to keep roads clear as well as the closing of side roads where that is possible.  ​

While these proposals will help to keep buses moving, they will also help traffic in general, including cars, to keep moving by helping to reduce congestion.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is developing and delivering the project in partnership with Rochdale Council. Rochdale Council’s in-house design team will be doing design work for different sections of the route. TfGM’s Urban Traffic Control Centre team will also be supporting with design work around major junctions and traffic signals. ​

The project is being funded by the Government through something called the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS). This is funding aimed at improving and developing local transport networks - particularly public transport networks - and cycling, walking and wheeling routes. It’s also aimed at opening up new areas and improving links to jobs, education and housing and creating innovative new transport schemes to solve problems. ​

The funding to support bus travel and other sustainable modes like walking, wheeling and cycling for the Bury-Rochdale route is available until spring 2027.

The works being planned in Bury, Heywood and Rochdale are at an early stage and TfGM is currently developing detailed proposals. We are currently asking people their thoughts on proposals that have been developed for Heywood. TfGM and Rochdale Council want to hear from anyone using the route now – however they travel, as well as the people who live, work, visit or run businesses around the route. ​

Read more information on the proposals, including timescales.

The proposed bus gate will help us to reduce journey times for people travelling by bus.

We know how important it is to people that their bus runs on time and it will help to improve both punctuality and reliability.

It may be necessary for some on street parking to be removed as part of these plans, but wherever possible we will avoid doing so. Current plans show the removal of on street parking on Bethel Street and Hill St. However, we are looking to replace these areas with a cycle lane on Bethel Street and a formalised parking area on Hill Street.

During this engagement we are looking to get thoughts and feedback on our initial designs.

We will then analyse this information and see how we can amend the design to make it better based on this information.

From this we will need to do some technical analysis, prepare business cases and make sure that our final design meets the objectives of TfGM and Rochdale Council whilst providing an improved town centre for those who work, visit and live in Heywood.

We are planning to come back with any changes made later in 2024 for further engagement.

Our aim is that all works are designed, built and completed before April 2027 to bring benefits to the bus network and moving around Heywood town centre.