A COUNCIL boss says there is a ‘journey to go on’ before a £212.7 million bypass is built – but hailed ‘positive’ talks with the Department for Transport (DfT).

In April, the Government confirmed it will put £142.5 million towards the Western Link scheme, with the Labour-run council planning to contribute £70.2 million.

The highway would connect the A56 Chester Road with the A57 Sankey Way in Great Sankey.

Along with requiring a high-level bridge across the Manchester Ship Canal, any new link road would need to travel over the Mersey and the West Coast Main Line too.

The authority says it will tackle congestion and unlock key land for development but campaigners have called for the plan to be shelved.

Town Hall chiefs expect to be in a position to submit the final business case to the DfT in autumn 2022, with construction planned to start in 2023 and the road to open to traffic in spring 2026.

David Boyer, the council’s operational director of transport and environment, provided an update to the supporting the local economy policy committee on Tuesday.

He said: “Obviously, I was delighted to get the funding decision from Government.

“We still have a journey to go on, we need to get the full business case in, but I am pleased to say we are making really good progress.

“We have had number of really good meetings with the DfT.

“They are very positive and are going to be a key partner in the process.”

Members were told extensive site surveys will commence from November – they will cover matters relating to ground conditions, geology and ecology.

Speaking in relation to the £19.8 million Centre Park link road project, Mr Boyer said he was ‘disappointed’ with the delays to get on site to begin work but told members ‘really good progress’ is now being made.

The scheme is due to be completed in late 2020.

Mr Boyer welcomed cash from the Government on key schemes in the borough but said projects are also ‘very reliant’ on local contributions, such as from the Local Growth Fund via the Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership.