TRANSPORT chiefs are not expecting any further delays over the construction of a new river crossing planned to tackle congestion misery in Warrington.

A key part of the council’s £19.8 million Centre Park link road project is a new bridge across the Mersey to connect Chester Road to the town centre, via an extended Slutchers Lane leading from Wilson Patten Street.

The council was aiming for the 18-month construction phase to start in winter last year but it has faced repeated delays.

It is unable to confirm specifically when construction work is due to begin but says it will be in ‘mid-2019’ – with a completion date set for late 2020.

The scheme will also see new traffic signal junction arrangements on Chester Road and Wilson Patten Street, along with traffic calming proposals for the Gainsborough Road area.

A council spokesman said: “Enabling work for the Centre Park link scheme is now well advanced – with work on the former Furness Rigby car garage now complete.

“Good progress is also being made by the landowner of the Centre Park site in undertaking enabling works to allow the building of the road from the new bridge across the River Mersey, to connect with Slutchers Lane.

“Following confirmation of the compulsory purchase order in late 2018, the intention is now to seek all remaining approvals to award the contract in Spring 2019.

“This will allow work to start in mid-2019, to be finished late 2020.

“We do not anticipate any further delays.”

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Twelve months ago, the council received a major boost after securing £3.6 million funding from the Government to help deliver the project.

At the time, Chancellor Philip Hammond said the cash will finance vital infrastructure projects in local authorities, along with kick-starting housing development ‘in some of Britain’s highest demand areas’.

The Centre Park link road scheme will also bring forward plans to build around 465 homes close to the town centre.