Road to success
WORK has started on the long-awaited Hemsworth-A1 link road – and there is hope that it will boost regeneration and help bring more jobs to the area.
The 24m link road, which was given the go-ahead by government transport chiefs in November, will run between the Hemsworth bypass and the A1 at Barnsdale Bar.
It will include a new section of road from the bypass to the north of its junction with the B6422 and an upgrade of Wrangbrook Lane from the A638 at North Elmsall to the A1.
Coun Albert Manifield, Wakefield Council’s deputy cabinet member for regeneration, got work under way on Tuesday morning by cutting the turf at South Kirkby’s old pit site.
Wakefield Council plans to build a waste management facility on the old pit site and Coun Manifield said that the link road would aid this development by providing direct transport links onto the site.
He said: “I’ve always seen the old pit site as the jewel in the crown of regeneration for the south east of the Wakefield district.
“The development we are hoping to get on that site will bring jobs for young people and this will help them get onto the property ladder. I’m hoping to see proper jobs created that come with a good rate of pay.
“Without the A1 link road this would not be possible. It will provide better transport links to the A1 and improve road safety by diverting traffic away from the surrounding towns and villages.
“There is a lot of regeneration happening around the area at the moment, which is what it desperately needs. It is the most deprived part of the district. I welcome the start of the work on the link road and wish to thank everyone who helped secure the money needed for it to begin.”
Carillion has been contracted to work together with the council on the project and is expected to finish the five mile stretch of road by the summer of 2009.
Matthew Murr, project manager for Carillion, said: “It’s nice to be involved in something that will redevelop the area and create jobs on the site.”
The Department of Transport is paying 22.8m towards the cost of building the road, with Wakefield Council meeting the remainder of the 24m.
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Weather for Wakefield
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
