WORK is due to start this spring on a new road system to kick-start a massive technology park where hundreds of jobs could be created for Wrexham.
Key to the success of the Western Gateway, to be built on land between Ruthin Road and the A483 bypass, is a £1 million junction improvement.
Wrexham Council has revealed that construction work for the scheme, on Croesnewydd Road, is due to start in May and last about five months.
It will eliminate a humpback bridge to help speed traffic straight into the 35-acre Western Gateway, which has been in the pipeline for the past decade.
The multi-million pound development – the third phase of Wrexham Technology Park – aims to attract hi-tech firms providing scores of well-paid jobs.
Along with part of Wrexham Industrial Estate, it forms the council’s bid for enterprise zone status submitted to the Welsh Government just before Christmas.
On a visit to Wrexham, Welsh Government Business Minister Edwina Hart said an announcement on new zones across Wales would be made next Tuesday.
Sarah Kettle, Wrexham Council’s regeneration project manager, said: “Taken as a whole, Western Gateway is a massive scheme that aims to create hundreds of jobs.
“The Croesnewydd Road improvement scheme will be the catalyst to all this.
“It will cost just over £1 million and will see the levelling out of the junction after the demolition of the old humpback bridge.
“There will then be two further phases to the overall road improvement scheme costing about £9 million, the financing of which has yet to be found.
“These later phases will see a ‘spine’ road built from the new junction, across the Western Gateway site and linking in to another new junction on Ruthin Road, which will mean a more effective route on to the A483 and the national road network.”
She added: “The main aim of the Western Gateway scheme is to re-position the economy of Wrexham by creating better paid, high technology jobs.
“Funding of the project, which will run into tens of millions of pounds, has yet to be arranged but much of it would have to come from the private sector.
“Enterprise zone status would open up opportunities for investment by providing business rate discounts and simplified planning procedures.”
Cllr Phil Wynn, who represents the area, said: “It is pleasing to know the roadworks at Croesnewydd Road are finally going to proceed.
“It will provide the first piece of the road infrastructure needed to kick-start the construction of the Western Gateway employment park.
“The council has also applied for financial assistance from the Welsh Government to set up an enterprise zone on the Western Gateway site, which if delivered will assist in attracting the jobs of the future to be located in our county.”
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