Cash to improve M6 access
ACCESS to the M6 near Crewe in Cheshire will be improved dramatically after funding was secured to relieve traffic congestion around Junction 16.
Cheshire East Council has secured a £7.5m from the Highways Agency for improvements which will involve widening all approaches to junction 16 and additional traffic signals on the M6 northbound slip road and A500 approaches.
This should reduce queuing and delays on approaches to junction 16. The scheme will also improve access to planned employment and other key development sites in Crewe and Stoke-on-Trent .
The council believes the improvement has the potential to support the delivery of around 5,800 jobs by 2020. Work will begin next year and should be completed by the end of 2014.
The investment is one of 58 schemes nationwide which the Highways Agency will deliver to help boost the economy, reduce congestion and improve safety as part of its ‘strategic pinch point’ programme.
Councillor Michael Jones, leader of Cheshire East Council and chairman of the Cheshire and Warrington Local Transport Board: “This is more great news for the area and is down to the hard work and lobbying this council and the LTB does on behalf of the people.
“I am delighted to see the Government takes Cheshire East seriously as a place for investment and understands the need to improve the nation’s highway network.
“One of our key aims is for Cheshire East to have a strong and resilient economy and improving the roads in and around the Borough ensures that we will gain an even greater reputation as an excellent place to do business.
“This will also further our plan to make Crewe an economic powerhouse by 2030 and complements the All Change for Crewe programme.”
The council is waiting to hear whether it has been successful in applying for a further £2.8m of local pinch point funding for a 600 metre-long widening of the A500 on the approach to the M6 at junction 16.
