THE construction of the Parkside link road is expected to be completed by the end of 2023 – with no delays currently expected.

But St Helens Council says it will only be fully opened to through traffic in summer the following year.

Work on the new link road, which has been tipped to unlock the ‘full economic potential’ of the huge Parkside development in Newton-le-Willows, commenced earlier this year.

The link road will comprise a new direct access from junction 22 of the M6 motorway into the former Parkside Colliery site.

St Helens Council appointed contractor Balfour Beatty to build the link road, which is designed to carry traffic generated by the site’s occupiers efficiently to the national road network and away from local highways.

The council has provided an update on the scheme.

A spokesman said: “Further to a positive public inquiry decision in November 2021, the construction stage of the project commenced March 2022.

“Work is progressing well on site with no delays currently expected.

“The road is expected to be completed by the end of 2023 but will only be fully opened to through traffic in summer 2024 following completion of complementary improvement works to M6, J22.”

Meanwhile, the council confirmed that phase one of the logistics units at Parkside are ‘scheduled to be available’ in summer 2024.

Furthermore, the authority has been asked if the link road is still expected to cost £40 million, or if it expects the costs to increase.

The spokesman added: “The council is confident the project will be delivered within the budget which includes a suitable risk allocation for potential cost increases going forward.”

The road will service the new employment space on the former Parkside Colliery site.

Extensive landscaping and tree planting also forms part of the wider works for the link road.