RESIDENTS have been grasping the opportunity to help shape the £19.3 million Centre Park link scheme tipped to bring the town's traffic nightmare to an end.

From Monday, a three-day exhibition bus roadshow made its way across the town at locations including the Cockhedge Centre and Centre Park.

The vehicle, which has been filled with graphics and draft documents, was transported to give all residents the chance to put their views forward over the project.

A key part of the plan is the construction of a crossing over the River Mersey, which could be completed by 2018.

It would see the creation of a link from Wilson Patten Street to Chester Road and council chiefs believe the project will dramatically reduce southbound traffic, as well as subsequently cutting the volume of motorists clogging up Bridge Foot.

Cllr Hans Mundry, executive member for highways, transportation and public realm, joined council officers at the Cockhedge Centre on Monday before the bus made its way to the Town Hall in the evening.

He has welcomed the way the public consultation is being carried out and is tipping the project to succeed.

"I think this gives people more opportunities and gets the message across better," he said.

"This move will help connect Warrington better – and one of the next stages is to build jobs for people and homes along the way.

"It will also open up more opportunities for people to be able to take advantage of.

"We do keep improving the prospects for the town but the downside to that is the congestion so we need to look at new ways to sort it – it has been a historical problem.

"People want to live here and stay in Warrington.

"The main issue is congestion and we are trying to deal with that but there is limited funding for us to carry out the work."

Drop-in events will also take place at St Werburgh's Community Hub today, December 10, from 2pm to 7.30pm, in Golden Square Shopping Centre all day tomorrow and Saturday to allow residents to learn more about the scheme.

In October the executive board passed proposals for the crossing.