‘Game changing’ link road step closer

A ‘GAME changer’ link road has taken a step forward with Rochdale council announcing it is now seeking a contractor.

The road will go from M62 Junction 19 through to Pilsworth Road - the entrance to Heywood Distribution Park.

An appointment is expected to be made in August with the road set to take two years to complete.

STAR Procurement, the joint buying service for Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside and Trafford councils, is managing the process on behalf of the council. The council and Rochdale Development Agency (RDA) will undertake the selection process and the contract will be with Rochdale council.

Damian Cooke, operations director at RDA, said: “It’s great to see this important project take another major step forward.

“The construction of the junction 19 link road will be a game changer for Heywood, with 1.5m square feet of new employment space, almost 3,000 new jobs and 1,000 new homes, alongside a new primary school.

“Once the road is complete in autumn 2021, it is expected to generate £175m a year for the local economy, but we want the benefit to be felt before this, and that’s why we will be looking for companies who will maximise social value by working with local sub-contractors and employing local people, wherever possible.”

The procurement process for this project is two stage. Stage 1 will be an assessment of the suitability of the companies. Rochdale council will then shortlist the highest scoring bidders to go forward to stage 2, the formal tender stage. Tenders will also be assessed on price, quality and social value.