Harworth Group plc, a leading regenerator of land and property for sustainable development and investment, announces that road improvement works have begun on the A6 Chorley Road as part of its Wingates employment scheme in Bolton.
The improvement plans, which were approved by Bolton Council in 2023, will realign a short section of the A6 Chorley Road in Westhoughton providing a new, dedicated access route to the Wingates employment site, where Harworth is delivering up to 1.1 million sq ft of logistics and manufacturing space. The new access route will leave Wimberry Hill Road and its Chorley Road junction unaltered, both of which will continue to serve the existing Wingates Industrial Estate.
The works, which will be carried out by the Bolton based civil engineering contractor, A E Yates Ltd, will move traffic 40 metres away from nearby homes, and create a new landscaped buffer between the realigned A6 Chorley Road and local properties, which will screen the road and provide a green, planted area.
The existing road will be narrowed and retained, providing access for local residences and creating a new cul-de-sac which will be shut off to through-traffic, improving safety for residents and access for deliveries.
The works also include a new signalised junction with comprehensive pedestrian and cycle crossing facilities, new and improved cycle lanes and pavements. Traffic generation from the development will not change as a result of the new junction and realigned road.
The improvements are expected to complete by spring 2025 . The existing A6 Chorley Road will remain open while the new road is being built adjacent to the existing A6 and private access for vehicles and pedestrians will be maintained during construction. As the construction progresses, traffic control measures will be put in place for safety, such as traffic lights.
“Construction of the new, dedicated access road to the Wingates site is designed to help improve traffic flows on the A6 Chorley Road. Off-site highway improvements are also planned as part of the wider Wingates employment scheme, which will provide substantial benefits to the existing network as well as accommodating traffic generation from the development.
“We are continuing to work with local residents to ensure that they are kept informed throughout the works, and we hope that the landscaped buffer and green, planted area, as well as the new cycle lanes and improved safety measures will also benefit the wider community.”
David Burkinshaw, Development Director – North West, Harworth
Further information can be found at www.wingatesdevelop.co.uk.