A £5 MILLION council scheme – which has eased peak hour congestion misery in east Warrington – has been named Transportation Project of the Year.

The Birchwood pinch point project has been awarded the north west regional honour by the Chartered Institute of Highways and Transportation.

The programme, which was completed last year, cost £5 million, with £1 million coming from the owners of Birchwood Park.

David Boyer, the council' assistant director for transport and environment, said: "With more than 34,000 vehicles a day using the A574 Birchwood Way and the close proximity of several important business parks, this was an extremely important piece of work.

"Council teams and contractors had worked very hard to deliver this key project within the budget and timescale.

 "We were delighted to have reduced peak hour congestion by 19 per cent and are very pleased that this has been recognised with this prestigious award."

It was the first project to be delivered in the north west using Local Growth Fund resources and the first civil engineering scheme to be delivered in the UK using the Scape National Civil Engineering and Infrastructure Framework.

Transport chiefs confirmed the project has reduced peak hour congestion by 19 per cent – the equivalent of 85 weeks of one vehicle continuously waiting

It has also improved accessibility for buses, pedestrians and cyclists, reduced carbon emissions from standing traffic and enhanced the long-term attractiveness of this regional employment site.

Consultation is under way on the second phase of work in the east of the town to help motorists 'access the network more efficiently'.

For more information visit warrington.gov.uk/we2.