UKH

Does it exist? ViaMichelin gives me a route (Ashbourne > Leek > Macclesfield > airport) as taking it for the last couple of miles, just after Handforth. Google, on the other hand, suggests that the section I need isn't finished... Anyone any ideas on this? Or indeed, other suggestions?

Thanks

Yeah - at least as long as its the one I'm think of. I use it all the time now and never need to go over Snake Pass. I think it opened about a year ago.

Quiet and shiny new. Watch the speed signs - feels like a 60/70 road but isn't always

Yes. I think your google is out of date.......

(It's the A555, it does change colour on google maps after the A34 roundabout (west))

The one I'm thinking of is right next to Manchester airport. Snake pass is east of Glossop... so I'm not sure I understand??

OK thanks. 

I can double-check on my sat nav if in a wee while you want - it is just 'updating' so should be current,

Chris

I used the new section of A555 between the A34 and A6 last week.

As the other poster suggested it seems to be a quicker way than Snake Pass to get from Scotland/Cumbria (M6) to the Peak.

I can't say whether the section between the airport and the A34 is open.

It's strange - on google, when I click on the little yellow chap for street view, there's a kilometre or so of the road that doesn't show as blue, and the satelite view looks like it's under construction. As Galpinos says, it must be out of date...

There is usually a date when the image was taken at the bottom of the screen,

Chris

Check it isn't flooded, happens if it just drizzles! (slight exaggeration)
It's a 21st century road engineering masterpiece!

It definitely exists. The trip from Stoney Middleton to Pen Trwyn is much easier...misses out Stockport completely.

Yes it's open and a delight to drive on.. usually completely empty! You'd think it'd save loads of time over going through Stockport but it strangely doesn't.. I think the High Lane A6 traffic adds on what you'd save otherwise. As said above, avoid after rain unless you've got a decent under seal.

Rental car...

Have you got time for a beer while you're here?!

Sorry - I'm in south Sheffield (well now, just over the border in Derbyshire) but to get to either N Wales or much of the Lakes, Google tells me to go over to Manchester, then over to the A55 for Wales or M6 for the Lakes. This always used to mean Snake Pass, but now, I go via Stoney Middleton and that road that links up with the new airport relief road to get on to the M56. This misses the Glossop traffic jams and, if going west, the M60 completely which can be super busy.

Early mornings going winter climbing the road over from Stoney is less likely to be snowy/icy than Snake Pass too which is another advantage.

I'll pm you.

It's open but the highway department are keeping it  a secret, NO signage coming from the west on M60 and easy to end up in airport departure lane. 

But does take a fare chunk of time off going to North Wales 

Yes, I took a visitor to the airport in July from Bakewell to the airport, and I thought the last bit was going to be all wiggly and tortuous and we got onto this shiny new road (I think this is what you're talking about).  Fortunately, I'd just updated my TomTom satnav (haven't yet migrated to google maps on phone but heading that way soon) and the TomTom had the new road, but the onboard (Peugoet, old, never updated) sat nav was having a wobbly, thought I was driving through a field   Road was a delight to drive and since I'm not a regular I can't compare how much time it saves, but it was very pleasant to drive.  And goes straight into the back of the airport, no fuss.  Worked perfect for me that day.  I also liked the new free drop-off area (https://www.manchesterairport.co.uk/parking/pick-up-and-drop-off/), but don't get me started on Manchester introducing drop-off charges at the terminal door.....

Brilliant, thanks everyone.

As echoed above; it's open but can flood

FYI we find Waze much better than google maps; more up to date and better traffic planning

Don't Google own Waze? I'd have assumed it was all the same data.

They’ve owned it for years but they’re still quite distinct for some reason. They will give you different routes and different etas for the same journey. 

Interesting! I was always a fan of Waze but never used Google Maps for driving.