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Hoole Road Bridge Closure And Traffic Management Plans

Details have been released of plans necessary for the diversion of road traffic affected by next February’s closure of Hoole Road Bridge when strengthening work is carried out by Network Rail.

Five of the Hoole Road Bridge spans do not meet modern day Highway Authority requirements for load capacity, say engineers, and so require strengthening. Funding has been secured for the £1.3 million project to be undertaken this financial year.

Hoole Road is one of the main distributor roads to and from Chester, and a comprehensive traffic management plan is required to control traffic movements during the works.

Cheshire County Council as highways authority recently carried out a major distribution of information in Chester, advising residents and businesses of the project, which begins on January 7, 2008 and is scheduled to last until early May 2008.

As a result of this work Hoole Road Bridge will be closed from 11 February 2008 for 8 – 12 weeks. The closure of the bridge will mean that there will be no access to and from the city centre via Hoole Road.

Access to all shops, residential and business properties along Hoole Road and Brook Street will be maintained at all times throughout the scheme and clear signage will be in place to indicate this. Clearly signed diversion routes will be in place for traffic heading for the City Centre.

Inevitably the bridge closure will mean traffic disruption but Cheshire County Council, with Network Rail, plan to keep this to a minimum by ensuring details are widely publicised.

“In particular we are keen to ensure that information about the planned diversion routes is widely distributed to allow time for those affected to plan new routes or make alternative arrangements, “explained a spokesman.

Advanced signing, giving notice of the road closure will be in place from 10 January 2008, and a map showing the planned diversion routes has been circulated. The map also features on our Roadworks pages. Extensive diversions will be in place from 11 February 2008.

Buses will run as normal although there will be diversionary routes in place and journeys may take longer. Cheshire County Council is working with local bus companies to establish bus diversion routes. For further local information about public transport ring the Cheshire Traveline on 0845 140 2666 (local call rate) open seven days a week 8am - 8pm, or email traveline@cheshire.gov.uk

Diversion Route and Signing

For road users, Traffic Managers have prepared Diversion Routes including three for the proposed works:

• Outer Diversion, from the Motorway network to divert traffic from the M56 and M53(S) via the A5117/A5032/A41 into Chester
• Inner Diversion, from the A56 to divert traffic along the A41 North, for the Sealand Road area of Chester, and A41 South, for City Centre and Boughton.
• Local Diversion, from Hoole Road to divert traffic along Newton Lane and Brook Lane for City Centre access.

Download Diversion Map for Road Closures

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Note to Editors: For more information on the detailed proposals please contact: Cheshire County Council’s Assistant Engineer Jamie Barron on 01244 973963 or jamie.barron@cheshire.gov.uk