Contractor Graham has commenced work on the £53 million Poynton Relief Road in Stockport.

The company is currently undertaking works to clear parts of the site and prepare the ground for construction.

The design and build contract was awarded to Graham in autumn 2019, and the team have been undertaking detailed design and site surveys, including ecological surveys and the creation of new ecological habitat.

The 3km road is expected to open to traffic in Autumn 2022. Funding for the scheme was agreed by the government earlier this year, following a successful bid by the council for local growth funding administered by the Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership.

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Poynton Relief Road will be a modern single carriageway. The relief road will also include two overbridge crossings for use by walkers, cyclists and farm vehicles. A 3.5-metre-wide combined cycle and footway will run beside the length of the route on the western side of the main carriageway.

Leo Martin, managing director of civil engineering for Graham, said: "We are looking forward to beginning works on the new Poynton Relief Road and working with Cheshire East Council to develop this vital infrastructure for the village and wider region.

"As well as reducing congestion in Poynton we will be providing a 3.5m-wide footpath and cycleway that will support cyclists and pedestrians as a greener option for travel.

"I've no doubt this project will provide vast benefits to the Poynton and Macclesfield areas and will be the latest in a number of important transport infrastructure schemes we have been proud to deliver in recent years."

Cheshire East Council contributed £21m towards the cost of the scheme with Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership providing £5.6m from the government’s Growth Deal and the Department for Transport providing £16.4m. A total of £7.7m is expected to come from developer contributions.