A £1.3m contract has been awarded to Mouchel/Hyder joint venture to assist Highways England with a further study on the viability of a trans-Pennine tunnel.
The study, one of several to help find solutions to tackle congestion and act as an enabler to economic growth, was commissioned by DfT and Transport for the North (TfN). It will investigate the strategic and economic case for a new high-standard highway route between Manchester and Sheffield, including assessing the potential opportunities of combining with a rail or light rail link.
It is anticipated that the new route will cross the Pennines and the Peak District National Park by means of a road tunnel which will extend for several miles in length.
