Consultation opens next week on Middlewich bypass

Cheshire East Council is planning a public consultation over the preferred route for its £58m Middlewich eastern bypass.

The six-week consultation, which opens on Monday 19 March, is seeking public feedback over the preferred route and how the bypass plans may be improved.

The proposals will see the construction of a 2.7km, 50mph, single carriageway from the Salt Cellar roundabout, on the A54 to Booth Lane, to the south of Middlewich. If approved construction could begin in 2020, with completion around the end of 2021.

The road would incorporate a cycleway and footway and a limited number of junctions to strategic sites, including improved access to the new waste transfer station at Cledford Lane.

The bypass, which has been backed by £46.8m of Government cash, is expected to unlock the local area to new housing and employment as well as ease traffic congestion in the town.

The remaining £11.2m of funding for the project will be met from the council’s capital budget and from developer contributions.

According to the council up to 1,160 new homes and 6,500 new jobs are expected to be created once the scheme is complete.

Sean Hannaby, Cheshire East Council director of planning and environment, said: “Middlewich town centre suffers from severe traffic congestion due to the growth in heavy vehicle traffic using the A54 and A533, which meet in the town centre.

“We are fully aware of the disruption and inconvenience suffered by residents and businesses in Middlewich as a result of this long-standing issue, which has been worsening over many years.”

The proposals for the Middlewich eastern bypass form part of the council’s local transport plan. The former Cheshire County Council secured initial planning permission for a scheme in the 1990s but, due to financial constraints halted its progress.

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How is this going to solve the problem? Most traffic coming off at Jct 18 is heading west through the town towards Winsford. If you are wanting to head south you would come off the M6 at Jct 17. Surely a bypass around the north of the town would be more beneficial.

By Gridlock

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