Galliford Try secures A49 link road contract

Galliford Try has won a £11m contract to build the 2.3km A49 link road in Wigan.

The dual carriageway will provide a new high-capacity route into Wigan town centre from the south of the borough. The proposed A49 Goose Green to Westwood Park Link Road project includes four major structures to bridge existing watercourses, canals and a primary road. The scheme also incorporates improvements to pedestrian, cycle and public transport access on the existing A49 and B5238.

Partly running along the route of a dismantled railway line, the new road will relieve peak congestion on the A49 and forms part of the client’s regeneration plans. The site’s proximity to the Wigan Flash’s nature reserve will be a key consideration during construction.

Bob Gibbon, regional director for Galliford Try, said: “We’re delighted to have won this business. Wigan Council is a new client for us but we have experience of working in the town from the flood alleviation schemes we’ve undertaken for the Environment Agency and look forward to working in the area again.”

Deputy leader of Wigan Council, councillor David Molyneux, added: “Improving the borough’s road network is a key part of Wigan Council’s economic growth strategy. Through our Wigan Works campaign and our Deal for Business we’re already generating great interest from businesses wanting to expand or relocate to Wigan Borough.

“The A49 Goose Green to Westwood Park link road will unlock land around the Poolstock area and Westwood, enabling new businesses such as the new Nicepak development to take advantage of a quality road network and helping us to achieve our aspiration to become the place to do business.”