by Richard Buckley, Editor, Business Eye

GRAHAM has secured a prestigious highways contract for the construction of a crucial 5.5km bypass that will help deliver “economic and social regeneration” to the town of Congleton, Cheshire.


 

Cheshire East Council officially announced the award notice on Tuesday 3rd July following a competitive tendering process.

 

GRAHAM’s submission was ranked first overall and earned recognition for its demonstration of technical expertise.

 

The new Congleton link road will join the A534 Sandbach Road (to the west of Congleton) with the A536 Macclesfield Road (to the north of the town).

 

It will significantly reduce town centre traffic congestion, particularly at peak times.

 

GRAHAM’s Managing Director – Civil Engineering, Leo Martin, believes the strategically important scheme will bring long-term benefits to the Congleton community.

 

“This win is a real coup for us and we are relishing the prospect of collaborating with Cheshire East Council on this important project that will bring economic and social regeneration to Congleton,” said Leo.

 

“We are vastly experienced in completing complex highways projects throughout the UK and we will be tapping into this expertise to ensure completion of the link road to the very highest standards.

 

“We appreciate that traffic has been a considerable challenge in the town and the link road will serve to vastly reduce congestion. But this scheme will do so much more than take vehicles away from the centre; it will also boost the local economy and create new avenues for growth.”

 

Commencement

Construction work will commence in November 2018 with scheduled completion set for late 2020.

 

Core elements of the project will involve cutting the road 8m deep into mudstone in a 25m high escarpment before traversing the River Dane with an 85m long bridge and landing on a 12m high embankment founded on piled alluvium.

 

Two further road bridge crossings and two underpasses will be constructed while 3.5km of realigned and new local roads represent an additional portion of the works programme, which will demand landscaping and environmental mitigation to accommodate great crested newts, bats and ancient woodland.

 

“There are a range of civil engineering challenges associated with this project particularly in an area subject to a high water table and, which requires environmental sensitivity,” continued Leo.

 

“Targeted research has given our team a comprehensive understanding of the wider Congleton town area and the bespoke requirements of the specification. Work may officially begin in November but preparation is already well under way so that our highways team is well placed to deliver a quality piece of critical infrastructure that will exceed the Council’s expectations.”

 

Philip Cox, Chief Executive of the Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership, said:

“This scheme will support the development of more than 2,400 homes and 20 hectares (50 acres) of employment land to the north of Congleton with the potential to generate 3,000 jobs by 2035 and £13m per year into the local economy.”

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