Berwick Road residents press for faster SPARK repairs in Manchester

Residents of Berwick Road in Manchester are calling for road repairs in their community to be speeded up, saying the unfinished work has made movement difficult and is affecting their safety, health and surroundings.

The residents say the roadway was excavated for works under the Shared Prosperity Through Accelerated Improvement to Our Road Network, or SPARK, programme, which they said began in November 2015. Since then, they have complained that the pace of the project has been uneven and too slow.

One resident said the condition of the road has become so poor that walking through the area feels like trying to keep balance on a skidding tyre. Others said trucks have become stuck on the dug-up roadway, forcing residents to assist in the rain.

A business operator in the community said the road conditions have cut off customer traffic and made it difficult to keep the shop open. The resident said people are no longer passing through the area to buy goods, leaving the business with little income.

Residents also complained about dust and mud, saying recent digging left sections of the community messy when rain fell. They said taxi fares have increased, with one resident saying a trip that once cost $250 can now cost as much as $500, while some commuters are dropped off before reaching their homes and must walk uphill.

Garbage collection has also become a concern. Residents said large trucks are unable to pass through because the roadway is narrow and there is little room after the works.

Central Manchester Member of Parliament Rhoda Moy Crawford declined to comment on the road concerns. However, at last month’s municipal corporation meeting, the mayor and councillors asked for clearer information on which roads will be repaired and when the work will be done.