PLANS for the Heysham M6 link road have reached a new milestone as the government awards the scheme 'Programme Entry' status.
The Department for Transport has announced that the £137 million proposals have gained the first level of approval for the project
County Councillor Matthew Tomlinson, Cabinet member for sustainable development, said: "I am pleased that the Secre
tary of State has awarded us Programme Entry status. This is very positive news for the M6 Link project and means that we can move forward with the plans for this worthwhile scheme.
"The county's team will be working hard to progress the scheme through the rest of the legal processes. Once complete the new link road should greatly i mprove the inter-urban road network in and around Lancaster and Heysham."
Main highway works are due to commence in 2010 with an expected completion date of 2014.
The proposed route connects the already built length of the A683 Heysham to M6 Link, at its junction with the A589 Morecambe Road near Torrisholme, to a fully remodelled junction 34 on the M6 motorway.
The route is a 4.8km long two-lane dual carriageway all-purpose road with intermediate junctions and a combined footway/cycleway along its full length. The scheme includes alterations to the local road network including existing junctions.
Twenty-three major structures will need to be built including bridges over the West Coast Mainline railway, Lancaster Canal and the River Lune.
