Graham Construction has been appointed by Cheshire East Council for the delivery of the Congleton Link Road scheme, which aims to start construction later this year. The 5.5 kilometre road will unlock key sites for housing and employment and provide an economic boost to Congleton, relieving traffic congestion in the town centre and improving east-west connectivity.

The Jacobs designed single carriageway road will run to the north of Congleton between the A534 Sandbach Road in the west and the A536 Macclesfield Road in the north east. Construction challenges for the scheme include passing beneath Chelford Road in an area subject to a high water table.

The plans will see the road being cut 8 m deep into mudstone in a 25 m high escarpment before crossing the River Dane on an 85 m long bridge and landing on a 12m high embankment founded on piled alluvium. There are also two other road bridge crossings and two underpasses.

“This is a real coup for us and we are relishing the prospect of working with Cheshire East Council on this important project that will bring economic and social regeneration to the town and the Congleton area,” said Leo Martin, managing director of Graham Construction for civil engineering.

Currently, the council is awaiting news on final funding approval from the Department for Transport in the hope the scheme can get the greenlight in November for a late 2020 finish. Half the cost of the project is being supported by the government and by a target of £24 million from developers, meaning that the council is left to meet a shortfall of up to £22 million.

“This scheme will support the development of more than 2,400 homes and 50 acres of employment land to the north of Congleton with the potential to generate 3,000 jobs by 2035 and £13 million per year into the local economy,” said Philip Cox, chief executive of the Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership.