Member Article

Jones Bros appointed to deliver new road in Wigan

A leading civil engineering company has secured a contract to deliver the planned A49 link road in Wigan.

Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK is to begin construction of the new highway later this year, after being appointed by Wigan Council.

Design works are underway on the project, which will ease congestion and improve air quality in the town. It is hoped that construction of the new road can begin later this year.

The civil engineering contractor has pledged to offer training, work placements and employment opportunities for local people throughout the project, and will work with the local authority to identify suitable candidates.

Local subcontract and supplier opportunities will also be available, giving the borough’s businesses the chance to be part of delivering the scheme.

The link road is part of a wider plan for investment in the borough’s road network, which has been designed to encourage economic growth in Wigan.

In addition, the link road will connect Warrington Road and Goose Green to Westwood Park and the town centre at the Poolstock and Chapel Lane junction.

Jones Bros managing director John Dielhof said: “We appreciate how important this new link road is to the people of Wigan Borough, and we’ve already started the preliminary design stages to strengthen connectivity for residents and commuters alike.

“As an independent, family-owned and run firm, we share Wigan Council’s vision around supporting local people and communities, which is why we’re looking forward to offering apprenticeships and opportunities for local sub-contractors and suppliers to get involved in the scheme.

“We will also work with closely with the council to keep residents updated throughout the construction journey.

“Jones Bros is a firm that is headquartered relatively close by and the award of this contract is strategically significant as we continue to pursue civil engineering work across the North West.”

Leader of the council, Councillor David Molyneux said: “By appointing Jones Bros, we’ve taken a major step forward with this project and works will soon be underway, which is an exciting prospect.

“Jones Bros have a wealth of experience in the field and they share our social values, so they were the perfect fit for this project.

“There are many benefits to the link road, such as providing businesses and residents with better east-west connectivity in the borough, which is a vital part of the borough’s economic growth strategy.

“Improving connectivity in this way gives people better access to jobs and can encourage businesses to invest in the borough, which is another key priority for us. Each of our schemes aims to provide key transport links and faster journey times for commuters.”

The link road will work hand in hand with the planned M58 link road, which recently received planning permission, and will connect junction 26 of the M6/M58 motorways with Wigan town centre, which will further alleviate congestion on local roads and provide an alternative route for those travelling in and out of the borough.

Both schemes have been made possible through funding support from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s Growth Deal pot, which is managed by Transport for Greater Manchester.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sam Harris .