Trinity Mead, Stratford-upon-Avon, 28 July 2004:

Drivers will soon find it quicker to get across Stratford after the brand-new eastern extension of the Stratford Southern Relief Road is opened on Thursday 12 August.

The new road – which connects the A3400 Shipston road to the A422 Banbury road – will give traffic a new route around the south-east side of Stratford. It also offers access to the Trinity Mead housing development, which is currently under construction.

The road will be officially opened by Cllr Alan Smith, Chair of Warwickshire County Council, at midday on 12 August. Official guests will then “test-drive” the new route from the vantage point of one of Stratford’s famous open-topped buses, courtesy of City Sightseeing.

The new road has been built by contractors Wrekin Construction under the supervision of Warwickshire County Council. The 1.2 km single-lane carriageway has taken six months to complete, at a cost of approximately £2 million. It has been funded by Heron Land Developments Ltd, Taylor Woodrow and Stratford District Council, the consortium responsible for Trinity Mead.

The scheme includes the construction of a single-span reinforced-concrete bridge over Rush Brook, which allows pedestrians using the public footpaths to cross safely under the road.

Cllr Alan Smith says: “I am delighted that Warwickshire County Council is involved in this prestigious project to provide access to the new housing development south of the river Avon. The road will also provide a useful bypass route on the south-east side of Stratford, which will help ease traffic congestion at the Alveston roundabout. The project is a great example of partnership working and we are pleased that it has been completed on time and within budget.”

Cllr Richard Hyde, Councillor for Stratford-upon-Avon South, says: “I am extremely pleased that this new road is opening before the majority of the new houses on the estate are occupied. Along with others, I have been pressing for this road to help manage the ever-increasing congestion. Now that the road is ready for use, we must continue our efforts to improve the roads and junctions that link with it, to give a number of realistic options for getting through and around the town."

Issued: July 2004