Final stage of £5.3 million Chester to Wales road scheme
The final phase of a £5.3 million project to tackle congestion on a key route between the North West and Wales is due to begin on Monday 5 January.
The Highways Agency project at the roundabout linking the A55 to the A483 near Chester will see traffic lights installed as well as road widening improvements made to parts of the junction.
Mark Mosley, Project Manager at the Highways Agency, said:
This is major project to tackle congestion and improve journey times on the route between Chester and Wales, and will see significant improvements to the A55 and A483.
The final stage of the project requires some lane closures at the roundabout linking the two roads so we are expecting some disruption while this work takes place. We’re therefore encouraging drivers to allow extra time, or to find alternative routes if possible.
Road users should see a significant improvement to their journeys when the project is completed, helping to bring a boost to both the local and regional economy.
The westbound exit slip road from the A55 onto the A483 will be reduced to two lanes for nearly two months from January while work is carried out to widen the road.
The A483 northbound approach to the roundabout will also be reduced to two lanes, and there will be a lane closure on the roundabout itself. A temporary 50mph speed limit will be in place.
Contractors have already installed traffic lights at the A483 junction with Rough Hill, just south of the A55 roundabout. A separate £129,000 scheme has also been completed to provide CCTV cameras at the roundabout.
Work is currently taking place to install traffic lights at the junction linking the A483 to the B5445 Wrexham Road, replacing the mini roundabout. A new footbridge is also being built over the A55.
The £5.3 million project, part of the Government’s £317 million pinch point programme, is designed to support Chester Business Park and help generate investment which will potentially lead to more than 11,500 jobs and 1,700 homes in the area by 2020. The scheme is due to be completed by the end of March.
The pinch point programme, devised with the input of councils and Local Enterprise Partnerships, is designed to help stimulate new development and local economic growth by improving road safety and tackling congestion bottle necks. In all, 28 projects worth £66 million are being delivered across the North West.
More details on the scheme are available on the project pages, where drivers can also sign up to receive email alerts.
General enquiries
Members of the public should contact the Highways Agency Information Line on 0300 123 5000.
Media enquiries
Journalists should contact the Highways Agency press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.