A contractor has been appointed for a major project to create a new £45m relief road for Howden.
East Riding of Yorkshire Council has officially awarded the main construction contract for the anticipated Howden Relief Road scheme, which is designed to reduce congestion by diverting heavy traffic away from the town centre, reducing accidents, lowering carbon emissions and improving travel times.
The project will see the building of a link road between the A614 Thorpe Road and Station Road (B1228), together with four roundabouts, on what is currently farmland.
The contract has been awarded to Aureos, a Sheffield-based firm recognised for its expertise in infrastructure development.
The firm is due to start work on the new road at the beginning of July and it is scheduled to take two years to complete.
The relief road forms part of a broader planning application for the site by JG Hatcliffe Associates to develop a new area north of Howden for mixed residential and commercial use – including houses, services, businesses and green spaces – which is included in the East Riding Local Plan as HOW-G.
Preparation works which began in July last year and included the creation of access roads and a compound pavement for the new contractor, as well as alternative access for local farm traffic.
The relief road project will be funded through a mix of developer contributions and council funding via Invest East Yorkshire, including a £2m Devolution grant and a £1m Local Transport Grant.
Councillor Gary McMaster, the council’s cabinet member for planning, housing and infrastructure, said: “I’m extremely pleased we have now awarded this contract and that work will soon begin on this transformational project for Howden.
“This relief road will significantly improve connectivity and ease congestion, giving HGV traffic a different route to avoid the town centre, for the benefit of both motorists, residents and businesses in Howden.
“Local officials have expressed optimism about the project’s impact and its role in boosting the region’s development.
“This initiative is part of wider aspirations to enhance infrastructure in Yorkshire and the Humber, ensuring smoother transportation and grow the economy.”
Louise Pavitt, managing director of Aureos Highways, said: “We are delighted to be supporting East Riding of Yorkshire Council on the Howden Relief Road scheme.
“This project is a critical step towards economic development in the region and will provide much needed highways improvements, opening up new routes and easing congestion.
“We are proud to contribute to vital infrastructure delivery across the UK, with the Howden scheme further strengthening our major highways delivery portfolio.”
When complete, the Howden Relief Road is designed to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion in the town centre, and provide a vital transport link for residents and businesses.
Works on the scheme will start on the Thorpe Road side of the site and move west towards Station Road, although the contractor will be working in all areas, including working on a new pump station for surface water to the south of the site to improve drainage.
While the vast majority of the work will be carried out off road, there will be times of traffic management on Thorpe Road and Station Road, although disruption will be kept to a minimum.
