§ Mr. Storeyasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when work will start on the new bridge over the 301W Mersey and the road improvement of A.56 between Stretford and Sale; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WatkinsonThe construction of a new bridge over the River Mersey at Stretford will begin shortly as part of a £300,000 scheme to modernise a section of the A.56 Trunk Road. Work on the associated road improvement will follow in a few months. The scheme is part of my long-term plan to improve this Trunk Road to the Manchester boundary and dual 3-lane carriageways will be provided between Dane Road, Sale and Barton Road, Stretford.
The improved Trunk Road will be joined at a new roundabout to the Stretford—Eccles Motorway By-pass now under construction by the Lancashire County Council. The new Mersey bridge will have 3 spans, and will take one of the new carriageways, while the other carriageway will be carried on the existing Crossford Bridge. The new bridge was designed by the Lancashire County Council as my agent authority. The road improvement has been designed and will he carried out by the Stretford Borough Council acting as my agents.