Motorists should be able to travel at an average speed of a ‘mile a minute’ on motorways around Greater Manchester, says a new transport masterplan.

Transport for the North, a new group set up to improve the infrastructure, warns: ‘The northern road network will become increasingly congested without action’.

Its report says a more co-ordinated approach across the region could help fix the problem of congestion.

It states the goal of ‘a core free-flow network with mile-a-minute journeys increasingly typical on expressways and motorways in the north of England, ensuring traffic remains free-flowing and safe, with faster more reliable journey times’.

Christian Spence, head of research and policy at Manchester Chamber of Commerce, said any improvement would be welcomed.

Traffic on the M60

He added: “Everyone will be delighted if we can get average speeds up to a mile a minute. For the local economy, for commuters and workers to get from home to the office easily and for businesses to be able to move their goods around efficiently is critical.

“Greater Manchester has suffered for some time with poor congestion both on minor roads and the major motorway network.

“Any improvement from where we are is welcomed and we will keep working closely with the government to ensure Greater Manchester and the north of England gets the transport network and infrastructure it sorely needs.”

Holding back economy

The report, concedes east-west road connections in the north were holding back the economy.

It says the motorway network has developed in a pattern that ‘radiates from London’ - running north-south.

That means the M62 is the only east-west motorway spanning the North.

The M62

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Equally, the road that connects Manchester and Sheffield is a small carriageway that takes over an hour.

The report states this journey should be slashed to 45 minutes .

The report also includes aims to cut carbon emissions, improve connections to ports and airports and boost north-south routes.

It talks of previous suggestions to widen the M6 and build a road under the Pennines between Sheffield and Manchester - completing the ‘triangle’ of major road links between Sheffield, Leeds and Manchester.

It adds: “The Northern road network will become increasingly congested without action.”