CONSTRUCTION of the new road and bridge across the River Tees that will form part of a missing link between Ingleby Barwick and Stockton town centre is due to start next week.

Birse Construction Limited have been awarded the contract for phase three of the South Stockton Link that runs south from Concorde Way to provide a third access to Ingleby Barwick.

This phase is expected to be completed by February 2002.

The new road forms part of an overall scheme, which will link up with the A66 and central Stockton, by December 2005.

A new cycleway link from Ingleby Barwick to central Stockton, will be constructed as part of the works.

Councillor Bob Cook, Stockton Borough Council's member for regeneration and development said: "This road will be particularly welcomed by the people who live alongside the busy routes, such as Thornaby Road, which it will relieve."

Construction traffic, to and from the site will use Lowfields Avenue, in Ingleby Barwick and Concorde Way, to the north side of the river Tees.

One lane of the dual-carriageway in the northbound direction will be reserved for buses and cars carrying more than one passenger.

The first phase of the route, a short dual carriageway and isolated bridge, was built by the former Cleveland County Council, in 1994, but the government of the day then abandoned the rest of the scheme.

The road is being funded by Stockton Borough Council, the government and Leech Homes, a private developer of the Ingleby Barwick site.