Airport link road awarded to Carillion Morgan Sindall JV
Carillion and Morgan Sindall have won a joint contract to build the £290m A6 to Manchester Airport relief road.
The appointment of the Carillion Morgan Sindall joint venture coincides with the announcement that Stockport Council, along with its partners Cheshire East and Manchester City councils have submitted a planning application for the scheme.
Subject to planning approval, the proposed scheme will provide 10km of dual carriageway linking the A6 at Hazel Grove to the eastern end of the existing A555 at Woodford Road, Bramhall and from the western end of the existing A555 at Wilmslow Road, Handforth to Manchester Airport.
The aim is to ease congestion and assist the growth of Manchester Airport and Airport City as well as areas of Stockport, Manchester and Cheshire East.
Cllr Sue Derbyshire, leader of Stockport Council, said: "These are significant steps in the delivery of the A6 to Manchester Airport Relief Road. Subject to planning approval, we look forward to working closely with Carillion and Morgan Sindall to deliver the scheme, which will improve the local economy and improve lives within Stockport by reducing congestion on local roads."
Gary Crisp, contracts director for the Carillion Morgan Sindall joint venture, said: "Carillion and Morgan Sindall have an established joint venture history, having worked together successfully on the £209m Dishforth to Leeming contract to upgrade 22 kilometres of existing A1 which was completed on-time last year."
The news follows the announcement earlier this month that the Department for Transport has awarded programme entry status for the scheme and a commitment of government funding, subject to completion of all the remaining statutory procedures. The funding has been secured through a combination of £165m of specific Department for Transport capital grant, £105m of additional capital grant funding from the Government through the recently approved Greater Manchester Earn Back model, and £20m of Local Transport Plan funding.
Subject to planning approval, construction of the road is expected to take place between 2014 and 2017.
Investment is always a good thing and should be welcomes. In practical terms this will divert a lot of traffic from the Stockport area onto the M56 that leads into the Princess Parkway and also connects the M60. What will that do to the morning rushhour on this already very busy section of highway? Does anybody know the answer?
By Altrincham Resident