Posted on Friday 30th August 2019
Image of MacArthurGlen Designer Outlet West Midlands in Cannock
A temporary road closure of a main road in Cannock as part of improvements for a major retail development will be lifted in one direction towards the end of the week starting 9 September.
The works being carried out by the county council will pave the way for the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet West Midlands in Cannock, which is set to be completed in 2020. The scheme will provide access to the £160 million development and improve traffic flow on surrounding roads.
A short section of the A5190 Lichfield Road, between the Biffa landfill roundabout and the Devon Road junction has been fully closed to traffic since July 17. The westbound lane is expected to be open towards the end of the week starting 9 September. The eastbound lane will need to remain closed until October 18 so that essential gas works can be carried out.
This week the county council’s highways team announced that the closed section of Hayes Way at its junction with the A460 Eastern Way will now open in mid-October – five months earlier than anticipated.
McArthurGlen has committed £15million to the improvement scheme, taking place at Churchbridge and the A460 Eastern Way.
Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member for highways and transport Helen Fisher said:
“Work is progressing well on the road improvement scheme for the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet West Midlands in Cannock.
Next week the westbound lane of the temporary closure of Lichfield Road will reopen. We’re also pleased to announce Hayes Way will reopen five months earlier than anticipated.
We would again like to thank people for their patience while the eastbound lane section of Lichfield Road remains closed.
The McArthurGlen Designer 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. Before this happens, the infrastructure needs to be in place and we are making every effort to get works completed as soon as possible.”
Cannock Chase 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 last summer. When it opens in 2020, this new landmark retail destination and community hub will create 1,000 jobs for the local area.
Councillor George Adamson, Leader of Cannock Chase Council said:
“It’s a year after the works started on the Designer Outlet which has progressed well. I know the disruption of the road works has been frustrating for residents and we appreciate their patience and understanding. But these are essential to progress this development, which will bring investment and jobs into the District.”
The road improvements will include:
- Access 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.
- 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.