THE BIGGEST road construction project in Worcestershire for decades has been given the green light after the Government confirmed a £54.5million investment into the Carrington Bridge.
Jesse Norman MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Roads, Local Transport and Devolution, confirmed the cash during a visit to the county last Thursday.
Long suffering motorists will now see the bridge from West Worcester to the M5 turned into a dual carriageway in a project that is costing more than £60million.
An estimated 30,000 vehicles drive along it each day and it’s one of the county’s most congested roads.
The first two phases of the planned improvements have been delivered and construction of the third phase started in October 2015.
Dualling the bridge forms part of the wider A4440 Southern Link Road improvement scheme which will relieve congestion, reduce journey times and improve journey time reliability as well as being an important boost for the local economy.
Phase 4 of the scheme includes dualling the road between Ketch and Powick, including Carrington Bridge and work is set to start in 2019.
Speaking at the site, Mr Norman said: “The Government is investing in the biggest roads upgrade in a generation and today we have announced a further £345million of funding for improving local roads to cut congestion, improve safety and shorten journey times.
“This includes £54.5million for the Worcester Southern Relief Road improvements, which will provide much needed congestion relief for local residents, as well as boosting jobs and local economic growth.”
Worcestershire County Council leader Coun Simon Geraghty, said: “This is fantastic news for Worcestershire. It will complete one of the county’s biggest capital construction projects.
“The expansion of Carrington Bridge will enable us to dual all the way from the west of Worcester to the M5.
“It will improve journey times and the reliability of the network. It will be a big boost for Malvern and it will reduce traffic congestion in Worcester.
“Worcestershire already has one of the fastest growing economies in the country and the completion of the Southern Link Road will make the county even more attractive as a place to live, work and invest.”
