WORK to pave the way for the construction of a crossing planned to tackle congestion misery in Warrington starts today.

The enabling work – which is expected to take between six and eight weeks to complete – will be focused around the decommissioning of the former Furness Rigby car sales plot on Chester Road.

It will involve demolition of the building, removal of the old filling station, land improvements and general vegetation clearance.

But the council insists there will be minimal disruption while it takes place.

A key part of the authority's £19.8 million project is a new bridge across the Mersey to connect Chester Road to the town centre, via an extended Slutchers Lane leading from Wilson Patten Street.

It will also see new traffic signal junction arrangements on Chester Road and Wilson Patten Street, along with traffic calming proposals for the Gainsborough Road area.

Cllr Hans Mundry, executive board member for highways, transportation and public realm, said: "We are making good progress with this significant project and it's great news that these enabling works are now getting under way.

"They will pave the way to the start of the main Centre Park Link scheme, which will bring huge benefits, easing traffic and helping to maximise Warrington's economic potential."

The council was expecting construction work to start on site in winter this year.

However, it is now anticipating it to start in mid-2019 and end in late 2020.

The start of construction on the main scheme remains subject to the successful acquisition of all land and property needed to build it.

The authority has enacted its highway compulsory purchase order powers to bring this to a conclusion, a process which is now 'progressing through to completion'.

The project will also bring forward plans to build approximately 465 homes close to the town centre.

For more information visit warrington.gov.uk/centreparklink, or e-mail cpl@warrington.gov.uk.