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New Year Start To £1.75 Million Road Maintenance To A54 Kelsall By-Pass And A556 Sandiway

Cheshire County Council has planned a major £1.75 million road maintenance scheme to begin on Monday 7 January 2008 on the A54 Chester Road Kelsall By-Pass and the A556 Chester Road, Sandiway.

Nearly 2 miles of the A54 Kelsall By-Pass will be resurfaced on both carriageways between its Kelsall Road junction and the east end of the dual carriageway near Morreys Lane.

Lane closures and contraflow traffic systems will ensure Kelsall By-pass remains open to through-traffic for the five weeks programme.

The 1.5 miles of worn-out A556 Chester Road between the A49/A556 Oakmere Crossroads and the Round Tower in Sandiway will also start on 7 January so that major resurfacing and long-term strengthening work can be rapidly completed over the following 12 weeks.

The A556 treatment length includes four side-road junctions and three sets of crossroads between the traffic signal-controlled Oakmere Crossroads and the Round Tower, as well as a busy urban dual carriageway section on the west side of the Round Tower.

Given the frequency of junctions, carriageway widths, traffic volumes and location, the County Council has carefully designed twenty-six temporary traffic management phases tailored to facilitate the safe, efficient and rapid delivery of the A556 works - with the least delay and disruption for the local community, local business and highway users.

Simultaneous working at multiple locations should also further reduce the duration and temporary impact of these works.
The A556 dual carriageway reconstruction will be completed during the first six weeks using mandatory speed restrictions, appropriate right-turn restrictions, lane closures and contraflow traffic systems.

The A556 single carriageway works, from Oakmere Crossroads to Cockpit Lane, will also be undertaken during the same period and will continue until completion in April, or earlier. Speed restrictions and shuttle working via traffic signal control; convoy working on narrower sections; and other sections, like the resurfacing of School Lane, will include targeted daytime off-peak operations to minimise local disruption.

Resurfacing works in the vicinity of the A49/A556 Oakmere Crossroads will be programmed for weekends. As will the reconstruction of the A556 between Blakemere Craft Centre and Sandington Drive. However, that narrow section will require a series of weekend road closures.

Separate closures of the following A556 Chester Road junctions will be necessary: Weaverham Road; School Lane (full length); Dalefords Lane; and Norley Road. Partial closures of Sandington Drive; Kennel Lane; Cockpit Lane; Pool Lane; and the entrance to Blakemere Craft Centre will also be required – but access will be maintained at those locations.

The contract for the County Council-funded scheme has been awarded to Manchester based Aggregate Industries UK Limited.
County Councillor Eveleigh Moore Dutton, Executive member for Highways and Transportation has called for the local communities to show patience during the period of essential works, “The A54 is a principal road link between the east side of Chester, Winsford, Middlewich and Congleton. And the A556 is a principal road link between the A54 (at Delamere), Northwich, Tabley and Manchester. Both are therefore important routes for local and through traffic.”

“Combining the two sites under one contract and simultaneously working on both has enabled substantial reductions in both the construction period and the disruption to local communities and highway users” said Cllr Moore Dutton.

“The County Council recognises that these temporary road restrictions will have an impact on traffic flows in and around the works and the approved diversion routes. These scheduled works have been programmed to be carried out to miss the busy run-up to Christmas and to coincide with the February school half-term holiday period to minimise disruption,” she said.
Cheshire’s Principal Engineer Neil Anderton explained that the work will take place seven days a week to progress the works and to minimise delays and the County Council would do its utmost to keep to our tight working schedule with noise kept to a minimum.

Councillor Moore Dutton added, “Obviously there will be disruption for drivers and residents but I know that many local people are in favour of this work and our engineers will work hard to help residents and businesses as much as they can. All businesses will remain open as usual and local access will be maintained via information signs and diversions.

“As the local Highways Authority we remain committed to ensuring that Cheshire’s highways are safe and well maintained. That commitment includes obtaining the best value from maintenance while minimising any associated disruption to road users and local communities”.

“We hope road users, local residents and businesses will show understanding and co-operation during this period of work,” she said.

Further information can be obtained from the County Council’s Highways Service on 01244 973788. and website www.cheshire.gov.uk/roads also has regularly updated roadwork information.

ENDS.
DH/RB

Note To Editors:
Further details available from Cheshire County Council’s Neil Anderton, Principal Engineer for Highways Design and Construction, Tel 01244 603788 and/or County Councillor Eveleigh Moore Dutton, Executive Member for Highways and Transportation. Tel 07711 817060.