TRANSPORT secretary Chris Grayling has confirmed the council can acquire the remaining land needed to build a £19.8 million river crossing planned to tackle congestion.

The Government has given the green light for it to obtain the rest of the areas required to deliver the Centre Park link road scheme.

The highways compulsory purchase order (CPO) boost means the authority will serve notice to draw down land which is yet to be acquired from landowners.

The decision paves the way for the council’s contractor Balfour Beatty to begin preparations at the site.

Cllr Hans Mundry, executive board member for highways, transportation and public realm, has responded to the announcement.

He said: “The confirmation of the CPO is an important milestone in the delivery of the Centre Park link, meaning we can now move ahead with the next phase of this hugely important scheme.

Warrington Guardian:

Cllr Hans Mundry

“We know the significant benefits it will bring to our town – helping to alleviate traffic congestion around Bridge Foot and Chester Road, providing a vital link to land south of Centre Park and supporting the future growth of our waterfront area.

“I’m delighted that the project continues to make such good progress and is on track to start on site in late spring.”

It is anticipated that construction work – which was initially due to start in winter last year – will be completed in late 2020.

A key part of the council’s 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.

It will also see the introduction of a new signal-controlled junction on Chester Road and traffic calming proposals for the Gainsborough Road area.

The vast majority of the works to construct the new bridge and highway link will be undertaken accessed via the former golf driving range and Slutchers Lane to minimise disruption.

But there will be a requirement to facilitate access to the construction site and those businesses located off Slutchers Lane via Centre Park itself for several months, while the existing Slutchers Lane and Wilson Patten Street junction is remodelled and signals are installed.

The works to construct the new signalised junction on Chester Road are expected to take place in spring 2020, for a period of between four and five months.

This will require certain works to be undertaken within temporary traffic management, with a ‘large majority’ of this due to be carried out off peak, from 9.30am to 3.30pm.

However, transport chiefs say some activities will require full closures of Chester Road and will, therefore, be undertaken over weekends or evenings.