TOWN Hall chiefs at Warrington are celebrating after one of the borough council’s transport schemes was named Transportation Project of the Year.
The Birchwood Pinchpoint Project, which was completed last year, was awarded the north west regional honour by the Chartered Institute of Highways and Transportation (CIHT).
David Boyer, the council’s 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 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.”
Birchwood Pinchpoint was the first project to be delivered in the north west using Local Growth Fund resources. It was also the first civil engineering project to be delivered in the UK using the Scape National Civil Engineering and Infrastructure Framework.
The project cost £5m, with a £1m contribution from the owners of Birchwood Employment Park.
The project has successfully:
• Reduced peak hour congestion by 19 per cent – equivalent of 85 weeks of one vehicle continuously waiting
• Improved accessibility for buses, pedestrians and cyclists
• Reduced carbon emissions from standing traffic
• Enhanced the long-term attractiveness of this regional employment site
Consultation is currently under way on the second phase of work in East Warrington to help local road users access the network more efficiently. Visit www.warrington.gov.uk/WE2 for more
information.
Pictured at the awards ceremony, at the Park Royal Hotel, Stretton: (L-R) Hayley Palmer, chairman of CIHT North West; Stephen Hunter, Transport forWarrington service manager (WBC); Dave Drury from Mott McDonald and David Boyer, assistant director for transport and environment for (WBC)
