Plans are progressing on a £57 million project to widen A500 link road in Cheshire.

Cheshire East Council has granted permission to press ahead with formal planning and business case funding on the scheme, which will see the route widened from the M6 motorway towards Crewe.

Out of three options, widening to the south is the preferred choice as chosen via consultations with stakeholders, including landowners, tenants, parish councils and Highways England. The road will be extended on land to the south rather than the north, increasing traffic flow and paving the way for HS2 construction traffic and increased vehicle use from new housing schemes and commercial growth.

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In addition, the option is considered to be more environmentally friendly and saves a popular ecological site known as 'the duckaries'. Other benefits include less disruption to power, gas and other underground services, as well as avoiding any impact on the recently-developed ‘pinch-point’ improvement scheme to the north.

Cllr David Brown said: "This is a scheme we need to press ahead with as we expect to see the arrival of construction traffic for the proposed HS2 hub station by 2021.

"This is a key infrastructure project that is essential to support Local Plan-led housing and employment growth around Crewe."

Work will now begin on developing a business case along with further work necessary to submit a formal planning application.

(LM)