Stunning footage gives updated view on Wigan's new link road

Reader David Spencer’s drone film gives readers a bird’s eye view of developments since it last took to the skies in October.

Back then the bridges connecting the stretches of road between Chapel Lane in Wigan and Warrington Road in Goose Green were taking shape while the routes inbetween looked sketchy to say the least.

But now the road is taking shape the full length of the A49 link road.

And it also better to see how traffic at the Wigan end will benefit from the doubling in width of the bridge at the junction with Poolstock.

Contractors Jones Bros began excavations on the project in the autumn of 2018 with the forecast made that it would take around 18 months to finish.

A spokeswoman for Wigan Council said that no completion date had yet been announced but Jones Bros were working to ensure that the spring target would be

met.

The road is aimed at reducing congestion in the area, especially on the residential Poolstock Lane.

Traffic coming along Chapel Lane from Debenhams will be in future encouraged not to bear right onto Poolstock but head straight on along Westwood Way which is currently being extended.

At a newly created roundabout it turns right and runs along the northern side of Scotman’s Flash and over Poolstock Lane, heading up towards Warrington

Road.

Thoughts, however, are already turning to the next stage of what is an even bigger project.

Ultimately the council would like to see the M6 at Orrell connected by a single road all the way to junction 5 of the M61 at Westhoughton.

And the next phase would be that section between Smithy Brook Road at Goose Green heading west to the south of Pemberton and connecting with M6/M58 junction 25 roundabout.

International infrastructure group Balfour Beatty was last week appointed by Wigan Council to draw up detailed designs for the route.

This time it is hoped that the congested Ormskirk Road will be the main beneficiary of the link road’s extension.

The project has attracted opposition from residents living in the south of Pemberton, especially those who bought new-build homes several years ago when searches suggested that the link road plans were dead in the water and now find that it will cut their homes off from the rest of the town.

But they seem resigned to seeing the road built now and are hoping instead to negotiate with the council and developers over improvements to access, pollution reduction, safety improvements and noise abatement.

To see Mr Spencer’s footage visit our website at www.wigantday.net