Amey has started work on a £15 million highway improvement programme that will ease traffic flow as part of major works to provide access to a new £160 million retail development in Staffordshire.
Cannock Chase District Council granted planning approval for a designer outlet at Mill Green in September 2016 following extensive consultations with the local community.
As part of the development, McArthurGlen has committed £15 million to a highway improvement programme to facilitate additional traffic and ease congestion on roads. Amey and the county council will carry out the road infrastructure works, which will include:
- Access works and improvements on the A460 Eastern Way, Churchbridge interchange and Orbital Way
- Widening the A460 Eastern Way to a dual carriageway and creating slip roads to the designer outlet
- A new underpass and access to the site from the A460. New footpaths and cycle ways will also be installed.
- Before the underpass is built, a temporary road will be built so no closures of the A460 are needed during peak times and traffic can continue to flow.
- Widening both the eastern and western A460 legs at the Churchbridge junction to provide two lanes in both directions
- Widening Orbital Way on the eastbound side, Lodge Lane and Churchbridge north roundabouts improved and installing new toucan crossings on Eastern Way
Amey’s Managing Director for Highways James Haluch, said: “Being involved in a scheme of this size, which will bring growth and job opportunities into Staffordshire, is fantastic for our highways team. We’ll be improving existing roads, easing traffic congestion and generating new networks as part of the £15million improvement scheme to create better places to live, work and travel in Staffordshire.”
“The new and improved road infrastructure required for residents and visitors to access this new development is vital to ensure people can rely on the network to get them from a to b.”
On-site construction of McArthurGlen Designer Outlet in Cannock started this summer. When it opens in 2020, this new landmark retail destination and community hub will create 1,000 jobs for the local area.
Staffordshire County Council’s Economic Growth Leader, Mark Winnington said: “This is a major road project which is supporting the development of what will become a big regional visitor attraction for Cannock and Staffordshire.”
“The highways works are absolutely essential to the delivery of the overall development. We will see a significant increase in traffic around the area and this scheme will provide suitable access to the site and improve traffic flow on surrounding roads. Our highways team has put in a lot of careful planning to this project and as part of this will be the construction of a temporary road to ensure there is no closure of the A460 while the underpass is built.”