A major link road that will ease traffic problems in Cheshire East and make room for cyclists and pedestrians is due to open on Monday.
Starting at lunchtime on April 19, the new Congleton Link Road for £ 90million will welcome drivers for the first time after a small Covid-safe ribbon cut.
The 5.5 km stretch, which is the county’s largest infrastructure project, will be named Wolstenholme Elmy Way – after Congleton’s famous pioneer educator and activist for women’s voices, Elizabeth Clarke Wolstenholme Elmy.
Pedestrians and cyclists were given access to the track on Friday before it opens to road vehicles on Monday.
The new road aims to relieve Congleton of some of its historic traffic problems, improve air quality for residents and open up new development opportunities for employment and housing.
The route was scheduled to open at the end of last year but was delayed due to the Covid pandemic and severe winter weather.
Despite these challenges, the council’s contractor, Graham, delivered the program on budget.
Cllr Craig Browne
Councilor Craig Browne, vice chairman of the Cheshire East Council in charge of infrastructure, said: “The opening of this link will be a real ‘Red Letter’ day for the Council, Graham, road users and especially the people of Congleton.
“Traffic congestion has previously hampered the growth of the city center, reduced foreign investment and also made it difficult to maintain existing business.
“I am very pleased that this massive project has progressed so well despite the additional challenges of two extremely humid winters and of course the Covid pandemic, which affected many system providers and in which contractors had to take special measures to protect workers is.
“For a project of this size and complexity, the progress from initial commissioning to completion was nothing short of astonishing. Everyone associated with this program should be proud. ”
The new motorway connects the A534 Sandbach Road to the west and the A536 Macclesfield Road to the north, improving connectivity and improving travel between Macclesfield, Congleton and the M6.
It will free up 20 hectares of new working land, with the potential to create 3,000 jobs by 2035.
Alastair Lewis, Contract Manager at Graham said, “This is a fantastic moment for the entire construction team, its partners and the local community.
“Despite the impact of the pandemic and recent difficult winter weather, we were able to safely continue our work in accordance with government and public health guidelines and get the link as close as possible to the original schedule.” and within budget. ”
Cheshire East Council is contributing £ 24 million to the program, with contributions from the central government and developers making up the balance.
For more information, see the Council’s Congleton Link Road website or the Graham website.
