Highway Highlights in 2025
The statistics below show the huge amount of work we have carried out across Cheshire East. Our work included gully emptying, street lighting repairs, pothole repairs, winter operations and road maintenance programmes. All of which play an important role in our commitment to keeping our roads safe.
Our team has been fully prepared since October to respond to winter conditions. Our fleet of 21 gritters has already treated all pre-planned routes.
This year brought a snowy start for many returning to work and school after the Christmas break, followed quickly by Storm Goretti. Despite the challenging weather, our teams responded quickly and effectively, completing 48 gritting runs, covering 13,319 miles, and using 1,259 tonnes of grit to help keep the network safe and moving within the first week of 2026.
Our gritter drivers work around the clock to keep our roads safe and moving. Click the link below to watch footage of our crews in action, as they work hard to respond to snow and icy conditions - Gritter Footage
In addition to managing snow and ice, the team was also ready to respond to storm related disruption and the challenges winter brings to the road network, including an increase in potholes due to the wet weather and freezing temperatures. For more information on gritting and snow clearance click below:
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Winter Road Repairs
Cold, wet winter weather leads to more highway defects. Rainwater gets into small cracks in the road, then freezes and expands, breaking the surface and speeding up pothole formation.
As expected, we’re seeing an increase in defects across the network. Our teams are out every day making roads safe and keeping the highway open and usable. We are working hard to tackle the problems, and you may see more of our crews carrying out repairs, especially as we move from winter into spring when potholes typically rise nationwide.
To manage this seasonal increase, we’re temporarily adjusting how we carry out some repairs. These fixes may not look as tidy as usual, but they are durable and importantly will keep the road safe. We will review each site to determine the best long‑term solution.
When the number of reports reduces, we’ll return to our usual repair standards as our wider resurfacing and patching programme gets underway.
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In addition to Storm Goretti, Storm Claudia hit Cheshire East on 14 November, bringing heavy rain and winds up to 53mph. We responded rapidly thanks to early activation of the Adverse Weather Desk following a yellow warning. Over 54 hours, we managed 185 emergency calls, cleared 119 fallen trees, and reopened 19 closed roads, ensuring public safety despite severe disruption.
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Recently completed Highways Projects
Southern Gateway, Crewe
Southern Gateway opened at the end of 2025 as part of a regeneration programme to create safer, more attractive and better connected routes for people walking and cycling from the south of Crewe into the town centre. Funded through the UK Government’s Future High Streets Fund, the project is a major step forward in supporting Crewe’s ongoing transformation for residents, businesses and visitors.
The works delivered between High Street and Forge Street include a new shared cycleway and footway with upgraded lighting, new planting and a rain‑garden feature, along with new seating, better crossings at Vernon Way and upgrades to the Oak Street/Vernon Way roundabout. The scheme also provides enhancements to the Mill Street bridge footpath, clearer signage throughout the area and a direct active‑travel link to the new Crewe Youth Zone.
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The scheme has been awarded level 2 status by Active Travel England.
Mill House Bridge repair works successfully completed
Essential repair works to the Mill House bridge, were successfully completed in December 2025, thanks to the hard work and commitment of our teams.
The project involved carefully stitching the bridge structure, as well as reconstructing the north and south retaining walls to allow safe access to the areas beneath the bridge. Our teams also carried out foundation underpinning and ground stabilisation, followed by the full restoration of the bridge arch.
A significant amount of activity took place behind the scenes to make the site safe and secure before repair work could begin.
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 To watch the timelapse video of the preparation of the site, please follow the link below:
Current schemes
Manchester Road, Wilmslow Active Travel Scheme
The Manchester Road Active Travel Scheme, which began in August 2025 and is scheduled for completion in late March 2026, forms part of our ongoing work to improve accessibility and create a safer, enhanced walking and cycling route between Wilmslow and Handforth.
The scheme will deliver a new segregated cycleway, new toucan crossings, a bus stop bypass to support safer cycling, upgrades to the Stanneylands Road junction including a cycle gate. Additional improvements include updated signage, a speed limit reduction from 40mph to 30mph, upgraded footway crossings to the side roads and business entrances, and extension of parking restrictions which will boost safety and visibility. Full carriageway resurfacing will also be carried out.
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Mill Street Corridor Improvements, Crewe
The Mill Street Corridor Scheme is an important part of plans to improve access to Crewe town centre, linking the recently completed Southern Gateway project to the train station and Crewe Alexandra FC. The works are funded by the UK Government through its Town Fund, with the scheme delivering better connections for pedestrians and cyclists.
Work is being carried out in phases to help minimise disruption for local businesses and residents. The latest phase focuses on the route between Railway Street and Mill Street with works scheduled to be completed in Spring 2026.
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B5470 Macclesfield Road, Rainow: Embankment Repairs
Work is continuing on the embankment supporting the B5470 near Macclesfield, between Ginclough and Kettleshulme. The project is expected to take around 20 weeks to complete.
We are now moving forward with the construction of a reinforced earth slope, which will be finished with a green hydroseeded surface to blend naturally into the surrounding landscape. In addition, the highway drainage system will be completely replaced and extended beyond the collapse area to improve long-term road stability, along with the reconstruction of the carriageway.
We are continuing to work closely with the Peak District National Park Authority to ensure all planning and environmental requirements are completed as planned.
 For weekly updates on the works on-site, click below:
Peacock Roundabout, Nantwich
We are carrying out highway improvements works at Peacock Roundabout on the A51 Nantwich Bypass
We are installing a new Toucan pedestrian crossing, upgrading street lighting in the area, and making improvements to the existing footway and cycleway. A reduced speed limit will also be introduced on the approach to the roundabout to support a safer route for all road users.
The works started on Monday 12 January 2026 and will take 5 weeks to complete, with road closures in place between 09:30 and 15:30. For more information:
Developing the Next Generation of Talent
Supporting Local Students with Employability Skills
We recently partnered with the Cheshire and Warrington Pledge Partnership to support the Employability Readiness Programme at Alsager Sixth Form.
The workshop focused on helping students develop and refine their CVs, as a CV is often the first impression an employer has and can open doors to interviews and future opportunities. It was fantastic to see such enthusiasm, engagement, and readiness for the future as they begin shaping their career journeys.
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Apprentice Roles in Highways
Are you or someone you know looking to take the first step into a rewarding career in Highways?
We have a number of upcoming apprenticeship opportunities, with roles available both on site and in our office based teams. Our apprentices benefit from a wide range of training and development courses, helping build valuable, long‑lasting skills and supporting progression throughout their career.
We’ll be attending the Cheshire and Warrington Apprentice Event on Wednesday 11 February 2026 at Cheshire College South & West, Crewe Campus, where we’ll be showcasing our vacancies. Assessment days will follow in March 2026.
Find out more about our current apprenticeship vacancies here:
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 Our Highways teams have been busy supporting local causes over the past few months, taking part in a range of charitable activities across our depots and offices.
We hosted Macmillan Coffee Mornings, raising funds to support people living with cancer, raising £508.00
In the lead‑up to Remembrance Day, teams refreshed poppy markings at memorials in Gawsworth, Styal, Rainow, Audlem and Shavington, ensuring these important places of reflection remain well maintained.
Throughout November, some of our team took on Movember, growing moustaches to raise awareness of men’s health. Thanks to their efforts and the generosity of colleagues they raised an incredible £1,183.00.
The teams have also been supporting local families this winter with unclaimed office lost property being donated to Chance Changing Lives in Crewe, while staff at our depots and offices gathered food and essentials for The Storehouse Foodbank, Congleton and St Paul’s Centre, Crewe. These donations really made a difference to those facing hardship over the Christmas period.
Festivities continued with Christmas Jumper Day, raising funds for St Luke’s Cheshire Hospice, helping them continue providing expert care free of charge. The annual Christmas quiz and raffle raised a very impressive £835.00.
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