Cheshire East Council has offered its explanation for a major Crewe road closure - following a high volume of complaints from local residents and a Crewe political party.

At the start of last week (May 9), the A530 Middlewich Road between the junctions of Pyms Lane and Smithy Lane closed. This closure is expected to be in place until at least March 2023.

This closure is part of the North West Crewe Package, a new road connecting the A530 Middlewich Road with Minshull New Road and Smithy Lane.

All works are being carried out by contractor Balfour Beatty around the Leighton area of Crewe - lasting for 80 weeks until November 2023.

The A530 Middlwich Road is closed off from this point to Smithy Lane until March 2023 (Ryan Parker).

This week local residents vented their frustrations on the road closure and NCWP works to Nub News on social media.

Leighton Hospital worker Rach Johnson told Nub News: "The closure is utterly ridiculous. The route I had to take from Wistaston to get to work at the hospital was a joke. 

"Double the journey time and therefore fuel cost. Driving anywhere in Crewe for the next 80 weeks will be hell."

Richard Huntingdon from Sandbach said: "The closure is destroying businesses on Nantwich Road, Middlewich. 

"We have just had the Road closed for three weeks and now this. Trade is already down due to rising costs, now we have road closures."

This week, Leader of Putting Crewe First, Cllr Brian Silvester contacted Cheshire East Council for answers on the 80-week roadworks.

A Cheshire East Council spokesperson responded, saying : "Whilst a significant part of the scheme is built away from existing roads and roundabouts, there will be a requirement to connect or "tie-in" to the existing road network along A530 Middlewich Road, Minshull New Road, Flowers Lane and for the realignment of Smithy Lane.

"The construction of the tie-in points will be phased to ensure the minimum possible disruption to traffic, whilst maintaining safe and efficient working.

Driving times to get to Leighton Hospital for Crewe residents and ambulancen staff has risen (Ryan Parker).

"Overall, it is expected that tie-in work, requiring traffic management on existing local roads, will take up to 80 weeks to complete, but the location will vary as works progress to suit phasing.

"Normal hours of working are enforced to take account of the scheme location and proximity to residential and commercial properties and have been approved in advance by the Local Planning Authority.

"The first phase of work involves the construction of two new roundabouts on the A530 to be constructed sequentially to minimise closure periods and limit disruption as much as possible.

"Phasing of construction work has been planned so that the roundabouts are constructed as safely and efficiently as possible, however it is necessary to close the road to allow all aspects of the roundabout work to be completed, including drainage, statutory undertaker diversions and final carriageway surfacing. 

"Unfortunately, it is not possible to maintain access from the A530 to the hospital whilst this phase of the work is ongoing."

On Friday (May 13), a Crewe Nub News reader sent in an image of an ambulance having to turn around to get to Leighton Hospital with a patient in the back - close to Pyms Lane.

Some emergency vehicles are still trying to use Sunnybank Road as a cut through to Minshull New Road - land now owned and blocked off by Bentley Motors.

An ambulance having to turn around with a patient in the back due to the road closure. Picture taken from Nub News reader close to Pyms Lane (Crewe Nub News).

The Cheshire East spokesperson added: "We have been working closely with the Hospital Trust to ensure that they are fully aware of the access routes to the hospital which are being maintained at all times.

"Both Pym's Lane and Sunnybank Road have been closed to public access for some considerable time now and do not feature on the official diversion route.

"The closure of these road was the subject of a separate application made by Bentley Motors and granted by the Secretary of State.

"Emergency services have all been informed of the closure. The Hospital has been provided with the official diversion route.

"The traffic management team are constantly look to see if there are any gaps in the information and will adjust the signage to suit."

Crewe Household Waste and Recyling Centre is still open. It can still be accessed from the A530 Middlewich Road (Google).

Leader of Putting Crewe First, Brian Silvester said: "This Cheshire East response to the criticism of the 80-week closure of Middlewich Road is wholly unacceptable.

"It seems obvious to many local people that the road and roundabouts should be constructed first and then only close Middlewich Road for a relatively short time to connect up with the new road and roundabouts.

"As far as possible work should be carried out 24/7 to speed up the construction time."

Mr Silvester believes that Cheshire East Council fails to see the point that most locals won't use the official diversion route, because it takes them 'several miles out of their way.'

Mr Silvester added: "This simply cannot be allowed to continue for 80 weeks.

"The road closure is causing total traffic chaos and gridlock in Crewe, which is unaccptable to motorists and residents alike and cannot be allowed to continue for a moment longer than is absolutely necessary.

The North West Crewe Package works are all expected to end by November 2023 (Ryan Parker).

"We are calling on Cheshire East to urgently re-think this scheme and come back with a plan that requires a much shorter closure of Middlewich Road."

More Information on the scheme and traffic management can be found on the dedicated scheme website HERE.

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