Government confirms Warrington link road cash
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has approved the £142.5m funding deal for the Western Link, connecting the A56 at Chester Road with the A57 at Sankey Way.
The road will create a new crossing point over the Mersey, cutting congestion and opening up land for development for up to 24,000 new homes and “substantial employment opportunities” potentially including Peel’s Port Warrington.
The Western Link is to join the A56 at Higher Walton, to the south of Warrington, with the A57 in Great Sankey.
Roads minister Jesse Norman said: “Investment in roads cuts travel time, increases productivity and helps create new job opportunities.
“The new Western Link Road will significantly benefit both road users and residents in Warrington, and is the latest instalment of the government’s record £13bn investment in transport across the North of England.”
The road will provide another link between the north and south of Warrington, taking away some traffic from the town centre. It is also intended to ease congestion close to Warrington Bank Quay station, while an additional bridge will be built over the Manchester Ship Canal.
Although funding has been approved by Government, construction is not expected to start until 2021 at the earliest.
