WORK is due to start next month on a new motorway junction on the M62 in Warrington, which could be the answer to the town's rat-run traffic problems.

Contractors have been appointed for the construction of junction eight at Burtonwood and work has been scheduled to start in mid-May.

As well as easing the ever-increasing rush hour congestion on Warrington's main trunk roads, the new junction will also be the final piece of the jigsaw in opening up the as-yet undeveloped Omega Business Park in Burtonwood.

The £19.4 million contract has gone to Costain Ltd of Castleford and the work is expected to take two years to complete.

The project also includes the widening of the motorway to junction nine and includes a link road to the Gemini Business Park.

Space for the new junction was built into the M62 back in 1972 to meet the future expansion of the town, and was given the final go-ahead after a public inquiry in 1999.

Highways Agency project manager Andy Withington said: "Construction of the new junction and widening of the motorway has been carefully planned to minimise disruption."