The 5.5km road will unlock key sites for housing and employment and provide an economic boost to Congleton, relieving traffic congestion in the town centre and improving east-west connectivity.

The Jacobs designed single carriageway road will run to the north of Congleton between the A534 Sandbach Road in the west and the A536 Macclesfield Road in the north east.

Construction challenges will include passing beneath Chelford Road in an area subject to a high water table.

The road will be cut 8m deep into mudstone in a 25m high escarpment before crossing the River Dane on an 85m long bridge and landing on a 12m high embankment founded on piled alluvium.

There are two other road bridge crossings and two underpasses.

Leo Martin, managing director of Graham Construction (civil engineering), said: “This is a real coup for us and we are relishing the prospect of working with Cheshire East Council on this important project that will bring economic and social regeneration to the town and the Congleton area.”

The council is now awaiting news on final funding approval from the Department for Transport in the hope of starting in November for a late 2020 finish.

Half the cost is coming from central government and a target of £24m from developers, the council will be left to meet a shortfall of up to £22m.

Philip Cox, chief executive of the Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “This scheme will support the development of more than 2,400 homes and 50 acres of employment land to the north of Congleton with the potential to generate 3,000 jobs by 2035 and £13m per year into the local economy.”