A500 widening scheme sees first phase complete

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A significant section of a project to widen the A500 at Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire has been completed by Highways England, with further efforts on a section between Porthill and Wolstanton still required before full completion can be achieved.

Going into further detail, the A500 widening project in Stoke-on-Trent has cost a total sum of £17.5M and has entailed addition of an extra lane on both sides of the motorway, increasing the number of lanes from two to three.

Furthermore, the scheme has needed to be carried out in two phases, with the recent completion of the Stoke section marking the completion of the first phase, while the second phase is scheduled for completion in Autumn 2020.

Adding to this, the project has been undertaken as part of the Stoke City Council’s Etruria Valley Development and has, so far, involved the use of 1,100m of safety barrier, 35,000 tonnes of aggregate, and over 600 metal sheet piles.

Commencement of the second phase of the A500 highway development is expected to begin once the existing safety barrier is replaced with a new concrete barrier as concrete barrier are of a much higher safety standard for motorists as they prevent ‘cross over accidents’.

The Highways England Project Manager, Humzah Mir stated: “This scheme will make journeys smoother and safer for people using this major route and we are delighted to have successfully completed the first phase.

“As we move into the second phase, and the night-time working, we will keep any noise and disturbance to a minimum for motorists and local residents and will work hard to complete the work as quickly as possible.

“We are grateful to road users and the local community for their patience and understanding while this important work is carried out.”

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