Posted on Monday 26th November 2018
Image of MacArthurGlen Designer Outlet West Midlands in Cannock
A major road scheme in Staffordshire to provide access to a new £160 million retail development and improve traffic flow on the roads around is progressing to its next phase.
The works being carried out by the county council will pave the way for the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet in Cannock, which is set to be completed in 2020.
McArthurGlen has committed £15milliion to the improvement scheme, taking place at Churchbridge and the A460 Eastern Way.
From Monday December 3, Hayes Way will be closed from the junction of Eastern Way to Pheasant Way so work can be carried out safely. The closure will be in place for the duration of the works. Bus companies have been notified and people are being advised to check diversions with bus operators if their route runs along Hayes Way.
By closing this junction, the project team will only need to have three-way temporary signals, rather than four-way. This will significantly reduce waiting traffic when compared with four-way signals.
The closed link means that traffic will be unable to join the A460 from Hayes Way and be unable to turn into Hayes Way from the A460 island. Local traffic will need to use the alternate routes of Hayes Way and Heath Way to access the Lichfield Road A5190 or the Hednesford Road B4154. The A460 will remain open to traffic.
Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member for highways and transport Helen Fisher said:
The McArthurGlen Designer Retail Outlet is a hugely important development for Staffordshire and the wider region. It will create jobs and bring visitors into Cannock, boosting the local economy.
The road improvement scheme is therefore vital in paving the way for the development. Undoubtedly it will create some disruption in the area but it is a necessary part of the development. Traffic management has been carefully planned to minimise disruption as much as is possible.
Closure of the Hayes Way junction will ensure there is much better traffic flow on the A460 and prevent any confusion that would be caused by frequent changes to traffic management.
We would ask people to allow additional time if traveling along this section of the A460 and would like to thank people for their ongoing patience.”
Cannock Chase District Council granted planning approval for a designer outlet at Mill Green in September 2016 following extensive consultations with the local community. On-site construction of McArthurGlen Designer Outlet in Cannock started this summer. When it opens in 2020, this new landmark retail destination and community hub will create 1,000 jobs for the local area.
The county council and development partner Amey are carrying out the road infrastructure works, which will include;
• Access works and improvements on the A460 Eastern Way, Churchbridge interchange and Orbital Way.
• Widening the A460 Eastern Way to a dual carriageway and creating slip roads to the designer outlet.
• A new underpass and access to the site from the A460. New footpaths and cycle ways will also be installed. Before the underpass is built, a temporary road will be built so no closures of the A460 are needed during peak times and traffic can continue to flow.
• Widening both the eastern and western A460 legs at the Churchbridge junction to provide two lanes in both directions
• Widening Orbital Way on the eastbound side, improving the Lodge Lane and Churchbridge roundabouts and installing new toucan crossings on Eastern Way.