Council eagerly awaits Middlewich Bypass cash
Cheshire East Council is hopeful the Department for Transport will confirm a £47m grant towards the £98m scheme’s overall cost, which would allow work to start this summer.
The release of grant funding would enable the council to enter a construction contract with Balfour Beatty to build the Middlewich Eastern Bypass, which has been in the pipeline since 2017.
The council’s highways and transport committee will meet next week to approve the contract, subject to a positive funding decision from the government.
Cheshire East Council has stated that the current development programme “depends on a timely decision” by the Department for Transport.
Any hesitation could push the start of the build to autumn 2025, which would increase costs due to complications with earthworks at that time of year, and potentially delay the project further.
The aim of the bypass is to reduce congestion in Middlewich and improve journey times on the wider highway network.
The two-way single-carriageway road would ease traffic at the A54 and A533 junctions and include the construction of two roundabouts off Pochin Way and Booth Lane.
In addition, two bridges would be built, one over the Trent and Mersey Canal, the other above the Sandbach to Northwich railway line.
The council has spent £27m to date on land assembly, scheme preparation, and ground investigations.
Cheshire East Council’s ambition is to receive business case approval from the government by the end of February.
Councillors want the bypass to be ready for use by autumn 2027.
Cllr Laura Crane, vice chair of Cheshire East Council’s highways and transport committee, said: “The Middlewich Eastern Bypass is a critical project for the council, alleviating traffic congestion, supporting the delivery of 1,950 new homes, and the creation of a much-needed 6,500 local jobs.”
Cllr Crane said the project was “shovel-ready”, with permissions, contractors, and designs all verified.
She added: “We have already invested considerable money in preparing for the delivery of this scheme and any further delay will have major financial implications as the government contribution to this project is a fixed amount.
“That is why [the] committee will be considering steps that we can take now – ahead of what we hope will be a positive funding decision from the government – so that we can hit the ground running once that decision arrives and ensure costs do not rise further.”
In January local businesses in Middlewich wrote to the government expressing “collective support” for the scheme. Signees included Swizzles, GO Outdoors, and Tata Chemicals Europe.
The letter indicated that local business offers “overwhelming support for the scheme”, and consider it “fundamental” to future economic growth.
The letter said: “This project represents a critical infrastructure improvement for the town, which has long suffered from severe traffic congestion, poor air quality, and a lack of modern transport solutions to sustain Middlewich’s growing economy.
“For businesses like us, a reliable and efficient highway network is key to our operations and helps facilitate smoother trade and commerce.”
In a climate emergency there is no question to which more roadspace is a legitimate answer.
By and by
If only they put the same amount of effort for reopening the Middlewich Branch Line – given the railway line exists and is used by freight. Would be useful to connect Mid Cheshire to Crewe and beyond
By Anonymous
A new road won’t make any difference. All that will happen is that developers will fill the gaps in with more sheds and houses.
By Cheshire resident
The bypass will never get off the ground because we are a small town that no council wants east or West they build houses but they isn’t enough shops unless it’s a takeaway or hairdressers no new schools plus come Sundays if you haven’t got a car you can’t go out off town because they isn’t any busses or taxis
By Anonymous
I don’t think that a two single carriageway would any better as when the HGVs are travelling down the carriageway there will be no where to overtake them when you are driving a car & also what will the speed limit be.
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By MICHAEL SPENCER
My climate friends, once you’re all driving my emissions free car, helping save the planet, more by-passes and road space will help relieve congestion.
So dig deep, build and then buy my cars.
And don’t worry about re-opening that closed railway. Public transport is about the public. I’m about you and taking your money.
#ToMarsWeGo!
By Tesla shareholder
I’d like to see more investment in active travel and public transport rather than more roads which isn’t a good use of public funds. Congestion is caused by drivers, have these Cllrs not heard of induced demand….
By anon
Anyone who has watched traffic going through Middlewich will see that the majority goes straight through the lights and not left for Sandbach. The bypass should be the other side of town to make a difference to traffic flow. Can planners not see this?
By Cheshire cat
For the last 100 years we’ve known about the effects of Induced Demand and how building more road space only leads to more congestion. I suppose we can’t rely on Highways Engineers and politicians (especially local councillors) to learn anything from a book though can we
By Anonymous
Cheshire East Council’s Full Business Case says the project has a benefit cost ratio of 1.18, which the DfT categorises as ‘low’ value for money. If costs increase further the benefits of the project may end up being less than the cost. Should be an easy denial for the DfT, this money can be far better spent on other modes.
By Anonymous
I thought Cheshire East council already had the funds in place? According to the very large sign on Booth lane work was due to start in spring 2022.
By Anonymous
Brilliant for middlewich
By Karen
Another 2000 homes, how many extra cars does that mean? Cannot cope now, gridlocked many times a day, no doctors, no dentists, no schools. Just cannot cope and the traffic should be flowed towards Winsford, NOT Sandbach which is gridlocked already and a nightmare for most.
By Anonymous