Little-known road could be upgraded to ease M1 congestion in Yorkshire

Wood Lane crosses the old Tinsley marshalling yards to connect Europa Link with Brinsworth Road, which then runs under the motorway.

Consultants are looking at how to improve traffic flows in an area which is vital to Sheffield’s prosperity.

They say as much as 35 per cent of traffic on Junctions 33 and 34 is just crossing between the two towns.

Tunnels under the M1 and a new motorway junction are being considered – and Wood Lane is also on their radar.

Mike Holmes of WSP, a firm hired by Sheffield City Council, said it was one of the options they were looking at. The route is currently ‘buses only’.

He added: “Wood Lane would need some form of engineering upgrade. It crosses the old Tinsley marshalling yards on a narrow bridge owned by Network Rail.

“Our structural engineers are looking at it. It would need to be two-way, single lane with pavements.”

They would also take cost, 
environmental and safety issues into account, he added.

WSP is also considering whether a new motorway junction is needed, at a cost of about £200m, and widening the last mile of the Parkway to three lanes, for £42m. It will submit a report to the Department for Transport next year. Transport campaigner Stuart Green said it was an “exciting” idea.

He added: “On the face of it, it’s certainly a good idea, even an exciting one, without entailing vast expense, although, even better if a new motorway junction were to be included as well. “