Council appoints Congleton Link Road contractor
Cheshire East Council has appointed civil engineering company Graham Construction to deliver the Congleton Link Road scheme – which could begin construction later this year.
The 3.5-mile road will unlock key sites for housing and employment and provide a major economic boost to Congleton, relieving traffic congestion in the town centre and improving east-west connectivity.
It is estimated the road could lead to the creation of 3,000 jobs, and add £13m each year to the local economy.
The appointment of Graham Construction follows a competitive tendering process involving several bidders.
The scheme links the A536 Macclesfield Road to the north with the A534 Sandbach Road to the west, significantly improving travel between Macclesfield, Congleton and the M6.
Cllr Don Stockton, Cheshire East Council cabinet member for environment, said: “The Congleton Link Road represents another major highways scheme in the ongoing programme of infrastructure development across the borough.
“This will help to unlock and support further economic growth, new investment and jobs and business opportunities for the area.”
Leo Martin, managing director of Graham Construction (civil engineering), said: “This strategically important scheme will bring long-term benefits to the Congleton community.
“This is a real coup for us and we are relishing the prospect of working with Cheshire East Council on this important project that will bring economic and social regeneration to the town and the Congleton area.
“We appreciate that traffic has been a considerable challenge in the town and the link road will serve to vastly reduce congestion.”
Philip Cox, chief executive of the Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), said: “This scheme will support the development of more than 2,400 homes and 50 acres of employment land to the north of Congleton, with the potential to generate 3,000 jobs by 2035 and £13m per year into the local economy.”
Two road bridge crossings and two underpasses will be built as part of the scheme, which will feature comprehensive environmental mitigation and conservation measures to protect great crested newts, bats, other wildlife and ancient woodland.
The council is now awaiting news on final funding approval from the Department for Transport. The new road is due to open to traffic in late 2020.
