Posted on Wednesday 20th January 2021
David Williams
A new section of the multi-million-pound road project which will support growth and ease congestion in Stafford opens on Monday, January 25.
Connecting Castlefields to Doxey, the section of the Stafford Western Access Route will include a new roundabout on the newly aligned Doxey Road. The section, which has been named Unicorn Way after the former Saint Gobain building demolished to make way for the road, will link Doxey Road to Martin Drive in Castlefields.
The opening of Unicorn Way will coincide with the start of works on the Doxey Road railway bridge. People are being reminded that during these works the bridge will be closed to all traffic but remain open to pedestrians and cyclists.
While this phase of the scheme is set to be completed in mid-June 2021, project progress will be continually reviewed and the team will be working hard to finish ahead of schedule if possible. Residents will be updated throughout the works period.
Traffic will be diverted from Doxey Road along the new Unicorn Way and onto Martin Drive, before joining Newport Road.
Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member for highways and transport David Williams said:
This phase of the Stafford Western Access Route project is a major milestone for us and will see the opening of Unicorn Way to connect Castlefields with Doxey. It will allow for work to begin on the Doxey Road bridge, which is essential to the scheme.
Unfortunately, we will need to close the bridge to traffic during this phase. While it is scheduled to be completed in mid-June, we would like to assure people that the team will be pulling out all the stops to get the job done as quickly as possible. We will of course be in regular communication with affected communities throughout.
The Stafford Western Access Route is a huge project for the county town and for Staffordshire. It is critical for Stafford’s future growth and to see the progress so far – particularly considering pandemic restrictions – is rewarding to the county council, communities and our businesses.”
Work to build the Stafford Western Access Route began in summer 2019. It will enable millions of pounds worth of new housing and business development to take place. The road will also improve traffic flow in the town centre, particularly by the railway station. Construction work has continued safely throughout the pandemic period.
Meanwhile work continues on installation of the new road over river bridge providing the connection between Madford Retail Park and the section towards Doxey Road. Seventy-two steel beams – weighing up to 58 tonnes – will form the base of the bridge over the River Sow.
The road is being funded by developers and with £15.5million secured by the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Enterprise Partnership through the Government’s Local Growth Fund. Both the county and borough councils also contributed to the scheme.
Drone footage of the project site can be seen here: https://youtu.be/Ry0o8tV5gwo
The road will link the A34 Foregate Street at Madford Retail Park to the A518 Newport Road Castlefields junction. The road will help improve traffic flow in Gaol Square, Newport Road (east of Kingsway), Station Road, Chell Road, A34 Foregate Street (south of the scheme) and Doxey Road.
Anyone wanting further information about the Stafford Western Access Route can email staffordwestern.accessroute@staffordshire.gov.uk
The scheme will include improved conditions for bus services, pedestrians and cyclists. There will also be environmental benefits through the redevelopment of areas of derelict land and landscaping along the route.