A major highways infrastructure project opening up key routes in Crewe linking to Leighton Hospital was opened by the council yesterday (10 July).

The main spine road – Tottys Hall Way – of the £51m Crewe Northwest Package scheme was opened officially by Cheshire East Council's highways and transport committee chair, Councillor Mark Goldsmith.

Samantha Thompson and Joanne Leigh from Leighton Academy attended the official opening with four pupils from the school and buried a time capsule at the location.

The project has included the construction of a new 2.6km single carriageway road and seven new roundabouts as well as the realignment of Smithy Lane, Flowers Lane and existing junction improvements on the A530 Middlewich Road and Minshull New Road.

Four pupils from Leighton Academy buried a time capsule at the location (Cheshire East Council).

Councillor Goldsmith said: "This has been a great project on many levels. Clearly improving the access around Leighton Hospital has been a key element to this, but going forward this is creating new opportunities for businesses to expand in addition to providing greatly improved access to existing housing developments.

"Now that we are at the end of the project, this will also enable further development to take place and create much needed housing in an area where the local population is growing. These works have also helped to create a safer environment for children coming to and from Leighton Academy – another positive aspect of this worthy project."

The project aims to 'improve access around Leighton Hospital' (Ryan Parker).

Councillor Chris Hilliard, Cheshire East Council's walking and cycling member champion, said: "It's great to see another highways scheme complete, which has a really positive focus for cyclists.

"Connectivity to Leighton Hospital has been a critical part of this project and cyclists and people on scooters will benefit from this as well through the walking and cycling routes within the area."

The scheme has also been supported by £10m from the government's Housing Infrastructure Fund and a further £5m grant from the DfT's National Productivity Investment Fund, both of which are part of the overall £51 project cost.

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