£2.7m road scheme to go ahead

COUNCIL chiefs at Warrington have accepted a tender for major junction improvements on the A49 Winwick Road costing about £2.7 million.
Work is expected to start soon and will take about six months.
It is expected to cause severe congestion on one of the town’s busiest roads but provision has been made for two lanes of Winwick Road to be kept open at peak periods to minimise problems.
Cost of the project was originally put at £3 million but this has been revised downwards to take account of updated quotations from utility companies and the tender received for the main works.
As a result, the borough council may not need to fund part of the scheme through borrowing up to £500,000.
The project involves improving the junction of the A49 Winwick Road with the A50 Long Lane and construction of a new junction from the A49 to provide a link road to the Orford Park sports village project
Council chiefs says the project will involving removal of the roundabout at the Winwick Road-Long Lane junction and replacement with a traffic signal crossroads junction.
The A50 Long Lane approach road will be widened and new right turn lanes will be created on both Winwick Road approaches.
Bus stops on Winwick Road will be relocated, the access from Winwick Road to Densham Avenue will be closed.
Benefits of the scheme include reduced traffic congestion, improved pedestrian crossings, on and off road improvements for cyclists, a more reliable bus service and enhanced landscaping around the junction.
Various temporary traffic restrictions will be necessary but every effort will be made to minimise traffic disruption. The works will be co-ordinated with those required for construction of the link road to Orford Park.
Widespread consultation has been carried out over the last two years.