A year in highways...
 Our highways team had another action-packed year in 2024. The statistics above highlight the scale of work completed across various areas such as gully emptying, street lighting repairs and patching. Maintaining a safe highway network whilst facing a record breaking number of storms recorded.
Adverse weather and storm response
Cheshire East was recently hit by heavy rain and strong winds as a result of Storm Bert in November and Storm Darragh in December.
During the 72 hour period, we responded to over 163 emergency incidents, including reports of flooding and fallen trees across the borough.
More than 45 roads closures were in place and our teams worked around the clock to maintain the safety of residents and road users. Following the storm, our drainage team carried out recovery operations and dealt with additional impacted roads across Cheshire East.
The festive period and the start of 2025 have also brought some challenging weather conditions to Cheshire East, with everything from severe flooding to heavy snowfall impacting our road network. Our highways teams have been working around the clock to keep our roads safe and accessible for residents.
 |
|
Over the New Year period, we received a significant volume of calls, with 181 incidents being responded to. Our teams have provided essential support to the police, by implementing necessary road closures to protect the public.
Thank you for your patience whilst we coordinated our response to the storms and adverse weather.
|
Gullies in winter
During winter, the wet weather can mean that gullies may start to run a bit slower. This doesn't mean that they are blocked or need immediate attention.
Before you report an issue with a gully or drain you should be aware that gullies vary in the speed they can drain water away. Some will overflow during heavy rain even if there is no blockage. The water will clear when the rain stops.
Please only report overflowing or blocked gullies if it is still causing a flood when the rain clears. Blocked gullies will be cleaned as part of our gully emptying programme where we empty them and check that they are working.
You can check to see the gullies we maintain and when we last attended it on our online tracker.
|
Freezing temperatures and potholes
The freezing temperatures during winter will impact on the condition of our roads.
Potholes form in freezing conditions after heavy rain followed by sub-zero temperatures, or melting snow followed by ice. This is due to water seeping through cracks, freezing and expanding the cracks in the road. Vehicles then cause these cracks to collapse which can cause a pothole.
If you see a pothole, you can report it to us and we will assess the defect and prioritise and respond where there is a risk to road safety.
Giving back to the community
 |
|
In December, our highways teams generously contributed a variety of items to local food banks in Cheshire East.
The donations were taken to New Life Church in Congleton and the St Paul's Centre in Crewe.
|
We're proud to support these vital community churches and the incredible work they do ensuring food access for everyone, throughout the year and especially during the festive period.
Apprentice vacancies
Are you, or somebody you know looking to kick-start a career in Highways?
We have a range of upcoming apprentice vacancies available including site-based and office-based roles. We also offer a range of training courses to develop life-long skills and support career development.
We will be attending the Cheshire and Warrington Apprentice Event on Monday 10 February at Cheshire College South and West Crewe Campus to showcase our current vacancies.
 To view our apprentice vacancies press the button below:
Works update
Ayrshire Way, Congleton
We will be installing a new pedestrian crossing and carrying out additional highway improvement works on the A527 Park Lane, Ayrshire Way and Sefton Avenue, Congleton.
The works will include improvements to the existing bus layby opposite Congleton railway station, resurfacing, footway widening and the installation of new road markings and traffic signs.
The works will take approximately 7 weeks to complete, commencing on 3 February 2025 (excluding weekends), in phases as detailed below:
-
Phase 1 – Footway and carriageway works on the A527 Park Lane, between the junctions of Sefton Avenue and Ayrshire Way on the Congleton railway station side from 3 – 21 February 2025
-
Phase 2 – Footway and carriageway works on the A527 Park Lane, between the junctions of Sefton Avenue and Ayrshire Way on the side where the existing bus layby is located from 24 February – 20 March 2025
Access to the railway station will be maintained at all times and bus companies will be operating a revised route along Leek Road / Canal Road – please check their website for more information regarding timetable changes.
Hightown / Broad Street junction, Crewe - Highway improvements
We are carrying out highway improvement works on Hightown / Broad Street junction, Crewe to introduce measures to improve safety and facilities for pedestrians and cyclists.
The works are partly funded by the Safer Roads Funds which is for road safety improvement schemes to reduce the number and severity of fatal and serious injury collisions on the 50 highest risk road sections in England. The level of risk is based on the Road Safety Foundation's analysis and report on road safety nationally.
The works will take approximately 9 weeks to complete, commencing on 10 February 2025 to enable us to carry out the following highway improvement works:
- Widening the existing footways on all four arms of the junction
- Upgrading the traffic signals equipment
- Widening and improving the existing crossing points
- Resurfacing of the junction
- Refreshing the existing road markings
The scheme will be delivered under different traffic management phases consisting of temporary traffic signals and road closures.
For more information about this scheme, including a breakdown of the works and phases, please click the button below:
Gawsworth Crossroads Improvements
We have installed traffic signals and resurfaced the road at the A536 Gawsworth crossroads to improve road safety and the condition of the road. The new traffic signals have been installed on the junction of Dark Lane / Church Lane / A536 in Gawsworth.
The scheme was part of the Department for Transport Safer Roads Fund following a successful bid by Cheshire East Council.
 Works were completed on 13 December with the following works completed as part of the scheme:
- Installation of the new traffic signals including pedestrian crossing facilities on the A536 and Church Lane
- Installation of street lighting
- Road resurfacing and completion works
- New road markings
- Relocation of a bus stop
- Changes to kerbing
- New traffic signs
- Footway maintenance works
Thank you for your patience whilst we completed this scheme.
Southern Gateway, Crewe
As part of a phased scheme to improve the route for pedestrians and cyclists from the south of Crewe into the town centre, the council has appointed contractors to deliver the first phase.
Known as the Southern Gateway project, it will improve the link from Mill Street/Oak Street/Vernon Way to Forge Street. This is a project that is being funded by the Government’s Future High Streets Fund programme.
So far, we have:
Southern Gateway progress
- Installed a parallel crossing on Vernon Way linking High Street to Mill Street
- Installed the foundations and fitted the retaining walls into position.
- Installed a new crossing on Forge Street
Mill street progress
- Removed the old splitter island and installed the new splitter island
- Dug out the east kerb-line and installed the new kerbing
- Completed the ducting and drainage for the east footpath
- Installed the new pedestrian crossing
- Constructed the pre-cast concrete retaining wall on the east and west side
Upcoming works
Installation of drainage in the rain garden and building up the foundations to be level with the existing surface.
Spotted an issue on the highway?
To report any highways issues that present an immediate danger, call us on 0300 123 5020 during working hours or out of working hours on 0300 123 5025.
To report a problem on our roads, click below:
|
