 Welcome to the tenth edition of the North West Crewe Package newsletter
The North West Crewe Package (NWCP) is a large-scale infrastructure project, which will improve roads and junctions, bringing forward opportunities for housing developments and for local businesses to expand. We are just over halfway through the scheme, which is being delivered on our behalf by Balfour Beatty.
For an overview of the project, you can keep up to date via our website at: cheshireeast.gov.uk/home/NWCP or by contacting the project liaison officer at Balfour Beatty, Steven Doolan, by email: steven.doolan@balfourbeatty.com
We would also welcome your views on this newsletter, as we are always seeking to improve our communications with residents. We are keen to understand whether you think we have the right balance of content. Please send your thoughts and suggestions to: nwcp@cheshireeast.gov.uk
 Monthly progress
Following the closure on the A530 Middlewich Road, work has continued with the construction of Flowers Lane Roundabout (roundabout 3) and the Flowers Lane link road. This has included the first three layers of asphalt being laid on the link road. Alongside these works, we have completed the surface water drainage system within the road and the newly created open ditch adjacent to the link road. Works including electricity, water and communications have also been completed.
Installation of the deep drainage for both surface and foul water along the internal East/West link road has been completed. These works consisted of excavating an open cut trench to an average depth of more than 4m. This drainage system also includes 16 manholes and inspection chambers, each being around 2m in diameter.
Surface water pipes for additional online storage during high rainfall events have been installed at Smithy Lane West, which included 220 metres of large 900mm diameter pipes and six inspection chambers.
Construction on the Minshull New Road Roundabout carriageway has started with the main cut and fill exercise to profile the existing ground levels followed by the placement of a structural foundation layer. This additional layer is required to provide a sound foundation for the road construction within sandy soils, which are subjected to a seasonal high-water table.
The existing conditions were identified through extensive ground investigations which led to a redesign of the carriageway construction and introduction of this additional layer. These works have been running at the same time as the deep drainage installation.
Some hedge and tree clearance has also been carried out across the scheme to enable connections to the existing road network. Due to these works just falling into the bird-nesting season, it has been necessary to have qualified ecologists supervising to confirm that there were no nesting birds present in any of the trees and hedges immediately prior to them being felled.
 Upcoming works
The full closure of the A530 Middlewich Road at Flowers Lane Roundabout will remain in place with a programmed target completion of Friday 16 June. This closure allows for the safe installation of the surface water drainage for the roundabout, north and south roads to be installed and full depth carriageway construction on the proposed roundabout and northern road.
Further work will include the installation of the destination and speed limit signage poles, street lighting, asphalt surfacing and lining. The new road signage will be erected immediately prior to the opening up of the internal roads, which will change the overall highway network. Until then, highway users will continue to follow the existing directional signage.
Minshull New Road will have electricity, gas and water diversion work to allow for the safe construction of the new carriageway and protection of the vitally important services, which serve a large area of western Crewe. We will be utilising the six-week summer school holiday period to minimise disruption to highway users. Drainage and carriageway construction will also continue on Minshull New Road Roundabout.
Deep surface and foul water drainage has commenced along the spine road. This drainage system averages at a little over 6m deep and has many restrictions on phasing due to an existing pumped foul main from Leighton Hospital crossing the proposed alignment.
For all work areas, please see the programme phasing image plan below.
 Traffic management
Two-way traffic lights on Minshull new Road will be in place until Saturday 10 June. To facilitate the diversion of existing statutory assets, this utilised the school half term to minimise disruption.
A full closure of Flowers Lane will start on Monday 26 June for approximately 22 weeks. This is to allow the construction of Fairfield Roundabout (roundabout 4) and the link from Flowers Lane to the A530/Flowers Lane Roundabout (roundabout 3). Please view earlier graphic for details.
 Work experience on the scheme..
Balfour Beatty has had Bradley on site completing a work placement in May. The team have been really impressed with his work ethic and willingness to learn while shadowing them. As part of the placement, Bradley - pictured on the left receiving an industry accredited silver award from one of Balfour Beatty's engineers, Sam - had to deliver a presentation to members of the team about some of the tasks he's completed. Bradley showed a good understanding of the tasks and went into some excellent technical detail. We hope to see Bradley again in the industry in the near future.
Bradley said: "I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Balfour Beatty. During my two-week placement, I developed skills with equipment I’d previously never seen and learnt how jobs are completed on a big site. I was always having knowledge dispensed to me as I was shadowing the team and it gave me a good understanding of all the different roles you can go down and what sort of responsibilities need to be managed.
“This has helped me choose a direction for the sector of construction I want to go down in the future and guided me onto the right path for my style of work. My favourite part of the two weeks was understanding how equipment worked and being able to use it myself. With the engineers’ help I could take calculation and actually be a part of the project. Overall, my expectations were exceeded and I would like to try for a spot on the team in the future."
 Frequently Asked Questions
What is the next planned phase of works once the A530 reopens?
Please see the explanation under the traffic management section of this newsletter
Why did you decide not to do all three roundabouts under the initial closure?
We had to maintain two emergency access routes for Leighton Hospital.
How is Leighton Hospital accessed?
From the south, the hospital can be accessed normally. From the north, access is currently available via Flowers Lane. However, this access will revert back to the A530 once Flowers Lane is closed on Monday 26 June. We have monthly meetings with all emergency services to ensure all partners are kept up to date.
How is the waste recycling centre accessed?
Following the reopening of the A530 Middlewich Road, the waste recycling centre can now be accessed as normal.
What are the working hours on site?
Monday to Friday 0800–1800
Saturday 0800–1600 where required
When is the North West Crewe Package scheme due to complete?
We are on schedule to complete all programmed works by spring 2024.
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