Bypass Go-Ahead Secured!

Bedford will have a completed western bypass after Mayor Dave Hodgson announced that the battle to overcome the array of obstacles blocking the vital project has been won. A complete Bedford Western Bypass has featured in local and national plans for over 50 years, and now construction of the crucial final section will begin as early as this autumn after the success of Mayor Dave's campaign for the array of obstacles to be tackled and overcome for the good of the borough.

The project to construct the long-awaited crucial final section was propelled forward by Mayor Dave's decision to issue Compulsory Purchase Orders to acquire the land needed for the road, alongside work to seek the land and rights required by agreement. The Council has now reached agreement will all the principal landowners and all objections to the Orders have now been withdrawn.

The final section of the bypass will join the A4280 at Biddenham with the A6 at Clapham, completing a link from north to south without the need for traffic to pass through Bedford town centre, reducing congestion in Bedford as well as creating new opportunities for jobs and investment.

Commenting, Mayor Dave Hodgson said: "We are delighted to be making this crucial project a reality. Funding is in place and the detailed, extensive and ultimately successful negotiations with the various parties affected are now complete.'

"It is superb news for our road network, for the local economy and for local quality of life that we can now get on and build this road. A completed bypass will reduce congestion in Bedford, cut journey times and help unlock new investment and jobs."

The Council is inviting tenders from contractors to build the road. Construction of the road will start later this year and it will open in 2016.