WORK on a multi-million pound shopping development for Redcar town centre started this week.
The £26m Regent Walk, which has been on the cards for five years, will include a Morrison's supermarket, 23 shops and parking for more than 650 cars.
The scheme is a partnership between developers Teesland, the regional development agency One NorthEast and Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council.
Work, which will be in three phases, is expected to take about 17 months - so the centre should be open for Christmas 2002.
The first stage began on Monday. Because it affects car parking in the town centre, thousands of leaflets explaining the changes will be available in High Street shops, the town's Tourist Information Centre and libraries across the borough.
The first big change will be north of the railway on West Dyke Road, where a "bus and service vehicle only" system will operate into the town centre.
The diverted route for cars will be via Corporation Road, Kirkleatham Lane and Coatham Road. West Dyke Road will still be open to all southbound traffic.
Work will start on a new road junction on West Dyke Road and on a new access road to link West Dyke Road with Lord Street.
West Dyke Road car park, north of the railway, will be closed, as will parts of the Wilton Street car park. A reduced number of spaces will be available behind Kwiksave and off Regent Street.
The new development is expected to create around 120 construction jobs and around 400 shop floor jobs.
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