THE Government has handed Cheshire East Council millions of pounds to start work on a strategic link road that's seen as key to facilitating thousands of new jobs in Crewe.

Whitehall has given CEC nearly 60 per cent of the £26.4 million cost for the Crewe Green Link Road South – one of the central components of CEC’s All Change for Crewe scheme.

The £15.64m Department for Transport funding will help pay for the 1.1km-long dual-carriageway, which will run between the A500 Hough-Shavington bypass and the A5020, creating an alternate bypass for Crewe and improving access to the A500 and M6.

It’s hoped the road will reduce traffic congestion in the town centre and help unlock the potential of two major employment sites at Basford – facilitating the creation of up to 12,500 jobs over the next 20 years.

CEC leader, clr Michael Jones, said: “This is a major project which is central to our plans to greatly enhance the future prosperity of Crewe and make it a nationally-significant economic centre by 2030.

“It will improve connectivity between areas of deprivation to the north of Crewe, the town centre, the rail station and provide major employment opportunities to the south east. It will also act as a major catalyst for further commercial investment and the creation of thousands of jobs.”

CEC and key developers have committed to meet the outstanding funding required for the road.

Work is due to begin by the end of July, with completion expected in October 2015.

Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin added: “This scheme is great news for Crewe and will support the economic growth and regeneration of the town.”