GRAHAM has broke ground a major £90 million road project in Cheshire.

The Congleton Link Road project will involve the construction of a 5.5km bypass to help deliver economic and social regeneration to the town.

It will run to the north of the town, south of Eaton, linking the A534 Sandbach Road, near its junction with Sandy Lane, to the A536 Macclesfield Road, near its junction with Moss Lane and provide a new crossing at the River Dane.

It will also create improved road connections to both Congleton Business Park and Radnor Park Trading Estate.

The project also has the potential to create 3,000 jobs, 2,400 new homes and 20 hectares of new employment land.

Leo Martin, GRAHAM Managing Director - Civil Engineering, said: "We are delighted to be working in collaboration with Cheshire East Council to construct this important project that will bring economic and social regeneration to Congleton. Our experience completing complex highways projects throughout the UK will be instrumental in ensuring the completion of the link road is to the very highest standards."


Cheshire East Council is contributing £24m towards the construction project, with the balance coming from central government and developer contributions.

Councillor Bailey commented: "This is the biggest capital project the council has ever done; and it is a credit to the strategic infrastructure team and all those involved that we have managed to deliver this scheme from just a concept in 2012 to where we are today, about to start work, just a few years later, I know it has been challenging at times. This must be some sort of a record for a highways scheme, some of which can take 20 years to deliver."                                                                

Fiona Bruce, MP for Congleton, added: "This new bypass will not only lead to fewer accidents and cut congestion in Congleton; it will take lorries out of the town centre and improve air quality for residents.

"The road will improve connectivity right across east Cheshire by improving links to Manchester airport, the M60 and the M6. It will also improve connectivity to the rail network, particularly the inter-city connection at Crewe. This road is much wanted, much needed and will future proof the development of Congleton for generations to come."

The road is due to open to traffic in late 2020.

(CM/MH)