£12 million boost for town’s transport projects

THREE key Warrington transport projects are to receive a massive £12 million boost from the government.
The Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) will be allocated £43.28million from the Local Growth Fund (LGF) to invest in transport and skills in the sub-region – and Warrington will receive more than £12 million for the three schemes.
First project to benefit will be the “Warrington East Phase 2”
scheme, with a total value of £13.3m and a LGF contribution of £6.9m.
This project will build on the success of the recently completed Phase 1 scheme, which re-configured the junction of Moss Gate/Birchwood Way, partially signalised Oakwood Gate roundabout and built a new bus link at Faraday Street.
The Phase 2 scheme will look to address congestion at College Place roundabout, introduce further improvements at Oakwood Gate, and improve bus access to Woolston Grange employment area.
Second project to benefit will be the “Omega Local Highways Phase 1” scheme, with a total value of £6.5m and a LGF contribution of £4.3m. This project includes a major junction improvement at Lingley Green Avenue/Omega Boulevard.
Finally, the “Joint Cheshire and Warrington Sustainable Travel (Access Fund)” will benefit, with a total value of £7.7m and LGF contribution of £5m.
In Warrington, this joint fund will deliver a new shared pedestrian and cycling route from Burtonwood to Omega, enable improvements on the Trans-Pennine Trail and create a promenade route along the River Mersey adjacent to Chester Road linking the Trans Pennine Trail to the town
centre.
Warrington’s lead member for highways and transportation, Cllr Hans Mundry, said: “These transport schemes will help support the delivery of around 600 new homes and 1,700 new jobs, tackle congestion, support public transport and improve conditions for cycling and walking.
“I’m delighted that we have been successful in securing this funding. It means we can now drive forward with these vital improvements to our highways network, which will bring huge benefits to local people for many years to come.”
Christine Gaskell, chairman of Cheshire and Warrington LEP, said: “This valuable support from government will fund a wide range of projects including opening up an important industrial site in Winsford, reducing congestion around the Cheshire Science Corridor Enterprise Zone in Birchwood and making improvements to the town centre in Crewe, as well as providing capital investment for our colleges.”