Posted on Wednesday 12th December 2018
People can find out about a major road project which will boost growth in Lichfield at an event in the city centre on Monday December 17.
The county council will be starting construction first part of the final section of Lichfield’s southern bypass in January – an essential part of the city’s infrastructure to support its future growth.
The public information event, where members of the project team will be on hand to answer people’s questions, takes place on in the Guildhall, Bore Street, between 1.30pm and 7.30pm.
The £17.5million scheme will connect the A5127 Birmingham Road with the A5206 London Road. It will involve building an underpass beneath the Cross City railway line.
The railway bridge and the connection to Birmingham Road roundabout is being funded by the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership through the Government’s Local Growth Deal. The remaining 600 metre stretch is being funded by a developer. Work on this section will begin in the new year.
Last year the Department for Transport announced £5 million would be allocated to the scheme, with £2.3m of Growth Deal funding going towards the project.
The work, scheduled to be completed in 2020, will be done in such a way that a restored Lichfield canal could also pass under the Cross City Line, boosting tourism in the area.
The new road will link with a new housing development and new primary school in addition to easing congestion in the city centre and in particular around the railways station. It is hoped that a planning application will be approved in 2019 with work due to begin shortly afterwards.
Staffordshire County Council’s economic growth leader Mark Winnington said:
"We are looking forward to starting the final phase of the Lichfield southern bypass which will make a huge difference to the city and spur its future growth.
In addition to enabling the delivery of much-needed new homes it will reduce congestion in the city centre and improve traffic flow.
It is a major engineering project which will involve taking the road under the railway line and this has involved a lot of careful planning. Monday’s event will enable people to find out more about the project from members of our highways team.
If anyone is unable to make it they will be able to access all of the information on our project webpage.”
Chris Loughran, deputy chair of GBSLEP, added:
"The Lichfield southern bypass will transform the Lichfield area by improving traffic flow to relieve congestion and boost connectivity.
The bypass will unlock a housing development site and improve access to new employment sites, attracting investment and creating new jobs. It will also enhance Lichfield’s reputation as a highly accessible tourism destination, further supporting the growth of the regional economy by enticing more visitors into the area.”