Since the 1950's Wigan Town Centre has been the only town in the North West without a dual carriageway, directing traffic from the major motorway network, causing hours of traffic congestion for commuters. However this week a new exit road has been opened giving an answer to Wigan's traffic problems.
The new Southgate road is situated on the Saddle Junction near Asda on Eleanor Street and has this week been opened to the public almost five years after the idea was brought to Wigan Council.
View New exit road out of wigan in a larger map
Cabinet member Gerald Bretherton, 42, was in the meeting when the motion for the road was passed and was a keen to get the project underway.
"The problem was finding a way of getting traffic in and out of wigan as it has always been very difficult and slow moving. We actually did a survey in Wigan and asked businesses about what we were proposing to do, and 90% of them said that better access was needed in and out of Wigan town centre because their businesses were suffering due to people not being able to get to their shops or when they have been they can't get away".
A condition for the build of the new road was that flood prevention measures were put in place as the saddle junction is a target area for floods, and this was a big problem during the heavy rainfall in September which saw the entire junction closed off due to flooding.
Environment Portfolio holder Gearald Bretherton has assured flood prevention measures for Southgate Road will be put in place, "Flooding barriers are being put in at the moment and there will be two or three huge water tanks with 912 Cuban metres of storage capacity so any water will be directed into those tanks and then pumped into the River Douglas. There will also be small 8inch mounds down the side of the road called bunds so the water instead of running from the road onto grass verges and car parks will be directed back on to the road and into the storage tanks ".
A vast amount of businesses have joined together to support the project and contribute funding however the new ring road has had a slightly negative effect for one business.
Owner of Monks Car Sales, situated on Pottery Road, Sam Monks said " The new road that has been put in is far too fast now as it's 40mph so cars would have been unable to pull into our garage without causing a crash. When we were shown plans by the council of the new road we decided we would move our business which we have just recently done as we would have lost a lot of custom. This has obviously cost us time and money through moving locations and changing our business address on signs and advertisements however the new road has solved Wigan's traffic problems so I am happy about that."
Head of Infrastructure within Wigan Council, Mark Tilley ,41, is very happy with the public response to the road. "We've had really good feedback, with people actually contacting the council saying how good the new road is and what a good idea it was, which is nice to get as we don't usually get phone calls of praise!"
Completion of Southgate Road will be into February of 2013. Audio in response questions asked to Gerald Bretherton and response to vox pop question "how do you feel about the new road and how has it been beneficial to you"? Answered by Joanne Clisham and Janet Frodsham.
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