Importantly, the project will help towards managing the transportation needs of the public and business with a strong respect for the local environment.
Reduced congestion, pollution from standing traffic and noise can be achieved as vehicles are directed onto a route more appropriate for their journey, leaving the B5238 Poolstock Lane to revert to its intended purpose as a local access road.
In this instance, assessments are that traffic flows will be reduced in Poolstock by up to 70% at peak periods.
The A49 link also improves sustainable access, through new cycling, walking and bus links, to the Wigan Flashes, an acknowledged area of exceptional natural value.
The embankment itself, as the road crosses the edge of the flashes along the line of the old railway, will be planted with grasses and appropriate vegetation. This transformation into a "green wall" is an established technique in road building, with the sides of the bank terraced and seeded. A natural look is created, allowing the route to be in sympathy with its surroundings.
