GOVERNMENT transport chiefs have today confirmed the route of the long-awaited M61 and M6 link road - but they still do not know when work will start.

The Department of Transport has approved the original preferred route of the planned A5225 trunk road which will by-pass Westhoughton, Wigan, Ince-in-Makerfield, and Hindley.

Work was originally due to start next year and be completed by 1999. But the scheme has been classed as a "longer-term" project because of revised government road spending plans. As reported in the BEN earlier this year the Highways Agency said it is not likely to be built for at least 15 years. The agency said today it would depend on the "availability of resources and other competing priorities within the trunk road programme."

The by-pass would ease traffic misery in Westhoughton, Hindley and Wigan town centres. The Secretary of State for Transport has accepted recommendations on the route from an inspector's report following a public inquiry held last year. The inspector's recommendation includes changes to two footpaths at Westhoughton to meet the concerns of objectors. A published compulsory purchase order to relocate a population of great crested newts will be withdrawn. A new order also covering the acquisition of land needed to construct the road will be published only when money is available to begin the project.

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