Work has now begun on the long-awaited £53m Poynton Relief Road.
Local residents have welcomed the news, which follows decades of campaigning to ease the burden of high traffic volumes and congestion in Poynton.
Cheshire East Council’s contractor, Graham, is undertaking enabling works to clear parts of the site and prepare the ground for construction.
The design and build contract was awarded in autumn 2019 to Graham, who have been undertaking detailed design and site surveys, including ecological surveys and the creation of new ecological habitat.
The 3km, single carriageway road is expected to open to traffic in Autumn 2022.
The relief road will include two overbridge crossings for use by walkers, cyclists and farm vehicles.
A 3.5-metre-wide combined cycle and footway will run alongside the full length of the route on the western side of the main carriageway.
Cllr Craig Browne, deputy leader of Cheshire East Council, said: “I am delighted that work has now begun on the long-awaited Poynton Relief Road.
“The council sees this scheme as a key priority in our major infrastructure plans to improve connections across the whole borough.”
Government transport secretary Grant Shapps said: “It’s great to see work begin on yet another vital road upgrade in the North.”
He added: “This new road will cut congestion and pollution in Poynton, improve access to job opportunities and education and unlock plans for thousands of homes – benefiting residents, businesses and the wider region.”
Cheshire East Council has contributed £21m towards the cost of the scheme, with Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership providing £5.6m from the government’s Growth Deal.
The Department for Transport has provided £16.4m, and a total of £7.7m is expected to come from developer contributions.
For more information on the Poynton Relief Road and to read the latest updates, visit the Cheshire East Council website.
