A CROSSING to reduce traffic on some of the town's 'most congested roads' is expected to open in early 2020.

The Centre Park link scheme received a major boost after securing £3.6 million funding from the Government in February.

A key part of the council’s £19.8 million project is a crossing over the Mersey to connect Chester Road to the town centre, via an extended Slutchers Lane leading from Wilson Patten Street.

A new signal-controlled junction will also be constructed at each end of the new link, on Chester Road and Wilson Patten Street.

And it will bring forward plans to build approximately 465 homes close to the town centre.

A council spokesman said: "Preparatory work for the road is being undertaken by the landowner and is well under way.

"Construction of the scheme will start when this work is completed – which is expected to be in autumn 2018.

"The scheme should then be open to traffic in early 2020."

Cllr Bob Barr, leader of the town's Liberal Democrat group, welcomed the project's latest developments.

He said: "This scheme fulfils objectives that we share – reducing congestion and air pollution at Bridge Foot and prioritising town centre housing development over green belt.

"This scheme cannot be seen in isolation.

"Until the draft transport and local plans are released, we cannot be sure what part this relatively small project plays in the larger effort to solve the town's problems."

The Tories highlighted former Warrington South MP David Mowat's efforts in 'securing' the Government funding.

Phil Marshall, deputy chairman of Warrington Conservatives, said: "The scheme will reduce the concentration of traffic at Bridge Foot and also open up access to the land that is currently inaccessible to the west of Chester Road.

"This is just one part of the major improvements needed to infrastructure, in and around the town centre, to support the growing population and influx of businesses, reflecting the continued reduction in unemployment in Warrington and growth of our local economy."

Labour's Warrington South MP Faisal Rashid believes only a 'package of proposals' will tackle the borough's traffic issues.

He added: "One of the greatest concerns raised with me by my constituents has been about the need for better road infrastructure and action to tackle the intolerable problems we have with traffic congestion.

"By providing access from Chester Road to Slutchers Lane, the Centre Park link will give our town another river crossing and, in doing so, I believe it will help to relieve pressure from some of our town's most congested roads."

The masterplan has been labelled as the 'first step' in the development of the town's ambitious waterfront programme.