I don't know if anyone is still up, but I have to get to Junction 7 of the M60 by 10am tomorrow morning, leaving from around Junction 31 of the M1 and I'm torn as to which way to go and how long it's gonna take.

My first instinct would be to go the direct route along a road with which I am familiar - the A57.. I can drop onto the A57 at the M1 and take it to the A630 junction (well, technically, through Handsworth 'cos of the roadworks, but who's counting) and then follow the A57 all the way to the east Manchester motorways over that gorgeous and pretty, but dangerous, road over the peaks.

But all the route planners I come across reckon I should be taking the M1 up to 35a and then taking the A628 over the peaks to meet the A57 on the other side.

Given that I will be leaving at 7:30am pretty much directly from J31/M1 to make it J7/M60 at 10am.. does anyone have any prior knowledge of these roads in rush hour and which one I'm safest taking?

I don't know if anyone is still up, but I have to get to Junction 7 of the M60 by 10am tomorrow morning, leaving from around Junction 31 of the M1 and I'm torn as to which way to go and how long it's gonna take.

My first instinct would be to go the direct route along a road with which I am familiar - the A57.. I can drop onto the A57 at the M1 and take it to the A630 junction (well, technically, through Handsworth 'cos of the roadworks, but who's counting) and then follow the A57 all the way to the east Manchester motorways over that gorgeous and pretty, but dangerous, road over the peaks.

But all the route planners I come across reckon I should be taking the M1 up to 35a and then taking the A628 over the peaks to meet the A57 on the other side.

Given that I will be leaving at 7:30am pretty much directly from J31/M1 to make it J7/M60 at 10am.. does anyone have any prior knowledge of these roads in rush hour and which one I'm safest taking?

Hi, if I were you, I'd take the A628. Lorries and:) coaches do, cos it's a faster and safer route than the Snake A57. I actually go via Holmfirth but I live nearer Hillsboro. Safe journey.

I do this route often. A625, A6178, through Castleton (don't forget to turn left towards winnits pass), picking up the A6 at Chapel en le Frith, down to Stockport, picking up the M60 at J1.

I'm not going to justify it as I know it works. If your meetings at 10am, set off at 7am. I'm well travelled along this particular route. (allow a 6.30am start if travelling from the north of Sheffield).

I do this route often. A625, A6178, through Castleton, picking up the A6 at Chapel en le Frith, down to Stockport, picking up the M60 at J1.

I'd forgotten about that route. I used to go that way when I lived up that end of town. Much better than my suggestion.

I'd forgotten about that route. I used to go that way when I lived up that end of town. Much better than my suggestion.

and you can throttle it over the tops without fear of slow moving wood lice

Not too comfortable with the southern route, although I will certainly consider it.. anyone with anything good to say about Snake Pass?

Snake Pass is fine............but once you get to Glossop it's one hell of a bottle neck getting to the motorway. Definately a non starter as far as I'm concerned.

I'd totally forgotten about that!! Thanks for reminding me! I tried to come back that way once after a social trip westwards and ended up near Glossop in rush hour it was an unequivocable nightmare!

I think I will give the A628 a go. I'll try and get out before 7:30 - but I doubt I'll manage it.. still at that time I shouldn't have *too* much trouble passing 33&34.. I've then just got to sit on the A628 and hope there's no accidents on the M60 - I think I'll be ok :thumbsup:

My old company was in the centre of Sale, which is where I presume you are going as its the closest city to Junction 7 of the M60.

To get to the office for 9:00 (sometimes a little bit later) I didn't have to leave home until 7.20. I went either over the Snake or Woodhead depending how I felt. When you reach Mottram you can queue for 30+ minutes, however the traffic doesn't get really bad until you hit the rush hour on the M67. This would always be my preferred route though. I believe the motorway route is nearly twice as far a round trip. It doesn't actually take any longer to do, as you are moving at a much greater average speed. Its up to what you prefer to do really. Sit back and relax in a queue or put your foot down and cruise.

Incidentally if you are going for an interview at a Consultancy in Sale let me know and I’ll give you a proper low down on what the company is like.

I do this route often. A625, A6178, through Castleton (don't forget to turn left towards winnits pass), picking up the A6 at Chapel en le Frith, down to Stockport, picking up the M60 at J1.

I'm not going to justify it as I know it works. If your meetings at 10am, set off at 7am. I'm well travelled along this particular route. (allow a 6.30am start if travelling from the north of Sheffield).

How long does it roughly take to get to the M60 ?? never been this way before .

My old company was in the centre of Sale, which is where I presume you are going as its the closest city to Junction 7 of the M60.

To get to the office for 9:00 (sometimes a little bit later) I didn't have to leave home until 7.20. I went either over the Snake or Woodhead depending how I felt. When you reach Mottram you can queue for 30+ minutes, however the traffic doesn't get really bad until you hit the rush hour on the M67. This would always be my preferred route though. I believe the motorway route is nearly twice as far a round trip. It doesn't actually take any longer to do, as you are moving at a much greater average speed. Its up to what you prefer to do really. Sit back and relax in a queue or put your foot down and cruise.

Incidentally if you are going for an interview at a Consultancy in Sale let me know and I’ll give you a proper low down on what the company is like.


PM'd.

I like your take on snake. It's a much more fun road.

I frequently head out to Manchester for work and I tend to stick to snake - I've found all the routes are bad at rush hour so do my best to avoid it and come in an hour earlier - FWIW the site I visit is just off J9 of the M60.

As a general rule I set off at 0630 and get on site at around 8.

Warning though - the M60 is packed at that time of day - sometimes its running OK, othertimes it crawls right up to the M56 turnoff (J5 or so). Most of the time I'm lucky to touch 40mph on there and spend most of the time in single figures.

Mottram is the other really slow part which is the town immediately before you get to the M67 - it always used to be bad but in the past six months or so it seems to have gotten vastly worse.

Oh one other thing - the double roundabout as you come out of Glossop had roadworks on when I came through over the weekend - dunno if they still there but that was an extra holdup.

Depends where about in Manchester you are heading. If it's the city centre, it's much quicker to take the snake or woodhead, M67 then straight into the centre.

If it's South Manchester/Stockport area then the Castleton/Winnets Pass route is quicker. But it can get quite snarled up after you come off the dual carridgeway to go through Disley etc at busy times.

I'd always take the Woodhead wherever possible. Going the Castleton/A6 route can mean mega hold-ups in Hazel Grove and Stockport, which can be as bad as Mottram at times. Also M60 junction 1 at the pyramid is hellish.

If you do take the Snake and want to avoid traffic in Glossop I'd advise you to cut through Old Glossop and Hadfield at busy times.

Check Google maps for this route. Manor Park Rd. Church St. Woodhead rd. Cemetery Rd. Park Rd. Hadfield Rd. Wooley Bridge Rd. Wooley Lane. Which brings you onto main road...Mottram Moor. If you want to take a detour and see the 'League of Gentleman' town centre .....it's Station Rd

I drive the snake alot at peak times n very rarely have any probs. leave about 7.20 n in manch city centre for 9.10 at latest.
plus if you have a nce car the snake is a great drive!

You can avoid the bottleneck in Mottram by taking a turn off the other side of Glossop. You will need to look on the map and get the exact route but here is a rough description. You go through Glossop on the A57, and go out the other side past the Tescos and then right on a mini roundabout staying on the A57. A bit futher on you come to a railway viaduct and there are some traffic lights immediately afterwards. Turn left at these lights. About 2 miles along that road take a right turn in the middle of a small village. Stay on this road (for miles on bendy roads) and it takes you to Mottram traffic lights. Alternatively turn left before you get to mottram lights and you go through a big council estate and come out near the roundabout that is the start of the M67. On the way back if it is rush hour, you can get off at the last junction before the end of the M67, and make your way on back roads to Mottram.