COUNCIL chiefs have submitted a bid to the Government for £70million to fund the dualling of the Carrington Bridge.
The multi-million pound funding is needed in order to complete the final phase of the Southern Link Road project- which will see the entire route dualled from Whittington to Powick.
Worcestershire County Council and the Local Enterprise Partnership submitted the bid to the Department of Transport and council chiefs believe the dualling will boost the economy, create jobs and speed up travel times between Worcester and Malvern.
A decision on whether or not the bid has been successful could be announced in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement. If the bid fails then work on the project will grind to a halt once phase three of the work, which has just began, is completed.
County Council leader, Coun Simon Geraghty, said: “Our determination to secure investment for improvements to Carrington Bridge and the dualling of the Southern Link Road in Worcester, represent the next phase of our plans to improve the county’s infrastructure to enable the local economy to continue to thrive.
“Worcestershire has one of the fastest growing economies in the country.
“This proposal, which we have developed in partnership with the LEP, demonstrates the confidence we have in Worcestershire’s economy and in its ability to continue to grow and to create new jobs and opportunities for people who live and work in the county.”
Gary Woodman, Chief Executive of Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “The importance of this bid cannot be underestimated as it is crucial to support our businesses and we recognise the economic benefit of our £16.4m investment in the Southern Link Road through the Government’s Growth Deal will only be fully realised with the completion of the dualling of Carrington Bridge.
“Furthermore, this scheme is fully supported by partners and businesses, as well as neighbouring areas with Herefordshire Council and Marches LEP endorsing the bid, and so the fact the County Council is submitting this proposal today is good news for the whole region.”
