A bypass 50 years in the making will finally see the light of day

A bypass that has been in the works for half a century is finally set to see building work start next year, it has been confirmed.

The long-awaited and much needed bypass scheme will make history when it begins in August, according to National Highways. Three public information events will be held this month before work begins on the transformative road building project.

Plans for the bypass have evolved over the last 50 years, but have never gone ahead, until now. The Secretary of State for Transport approved Development Consent Orders for the Link Roads Project last year, but a legal challenge delayed the scheme further.

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That legal challenge was rejected by the Court of Appeal earlier this year, meaning work to enable construction can now begin. Members of the public, who will see enabling works for the bypass scheme start next month, are being invited to meet the team behind National Highways’ A57 Link Roads project.

These specialist preparations will include the construction of a specific works site located off the A57, alongside other activity, paving the way for the construction of the bypass itself early next year. The bypass is expected to take approximately three years to complete.

National Highways senior project manager, Andy Dawson, said: “We are delighted to begin enabling works in preparation for this long-awaited, much needed transformative bypass scheme to go ahead and invite everyone to come along to one of our public information events to find out more.”

Team members from National Highways and its partners Balfour Beatty will be on hand at each of the events to update everyone about