WARRINGTON Borough Council has announced the latest plans for a £212 million bypass planned to tackle congestion and unlock key development land.

The proposed Western Link would connect the A56 Chester Road with the A57 Sankey Way in Great Sankey.

A planning application is expected to be submitted in May next year, with construction set to start in early 2023. It could be completed and open to traffic in 2026.

The Government has confirmed, in principle, it will put £142.5 million towards the scheme, with the Labour-run council planning to contribute £70.2 million.

A public engagement period is now under way to allow residents, businesses and other stakeholders to view the proposals and make their views known to the council.

This follows a comprehensive consultation exercise in 2017, in which communities were asked to give their views on six possible routes before a route was selected.

Plans have now been developed for the preferred route and residents have an opportunity to comment on the proposals.

The council says the new Western Link road aims to tackle congestion, improve traffic flow, unlock key development land and improve the quality of life for residents within the borough, which can be delivered through significant funding from Government.

Warrington Guardian:

The proposed route

The project will see significant investment in Warrington, improving journeys for those using cars, reducing the amount of congestion on the roads and ‘making it easier to get from A to B’.

The route will see new, on-road cycle lanes and pedestrian walkways and provide links to off-road paths and cycleways.

Town Hall chiefs say it is about building on existing infrastructure, improving connectivity within the borough, and investing in the future.

The council wants to hear what people in the area have to say and, in light of the Covid-19 pandemic and current social distancing guidelines, has launched a fully-interactive digital engagement platform for residents to view the proposals, interact with the wider project team and provide feedback.

It will also be hosting an interactive session over video and text chat to give the opportunity for people to put their questions to the team. The dates for these will be announced on the project website.

Cllr Hans Mundry, the council’s cabinet member for highways and transportation, said: “Bringing forward the latest proposals for the Warrington Western Link is a key milestone in this significant investment in our future.

“A new road is necessary to ease congestion and improve journey times, but this project is about so much more than that.

“Investment in key infrastructure brings with it new jobs and new opportunities, opening up previously locked sites for development, creating an even bigger benefit for our local economy.

“This engagement period gives us the chance to talk to local people about the proposals and we are looking forward to hearing what they have to say.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for Warrington, and we are excited about delivering for the future.”

People can get involved in the following ways:

•             Visit the project website at warringtonwesternlink.co.uk

•             Email feedback and questions to warringtonwesternlink@havingyoursay.co.uk

•             Call a dedicated Community Information Line on 0333 358 0502 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5.30pm). Local residents can also request hard copies of the materials on display online by getting in touch via one of the channels outlined.