£12m roads scheme would boost Worcester economy

Worcestershire County Council has revealed plans for a £12 million roads expansion.

The local authority has revealed new plans for the Hoo Brook Link Road, which will connect the A451 Stourport Road to the A442 Worcester Road.

Phase one of the project is about to get underway and will see a 600-metre long two-way carriageway built at a cost of £4.9m funded from the Department for Transport (DfT).

The council has applied to the DfT for phase two, which will see a new bridge built over the Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal and river Stour, linking with the A442 Worcester Road.

The project will link two key industrial zones and is expected to boost the local economy.

Total costs are estimated at around £11.8m, with the county council’s cabinet backing its bid to the DfT. If the DfT approves the plan, phase two work could start by the winter of 2014 and open in spring 2015.

Speaking to Worcester News, councillor Simon Geraghty, deputy leader and cabinet member for the economy, said: “This is a part of Worcestershire which is quite congested and economically, it’s much needed not only for that particular district but the entire county.

“We need to realise the economic opportunity we have here – this is one of our key ‘game changer’ sites.”