Council arranges roadworks suspension for Christmas period

Cheshire West and Chester Council has arranged a roadworks embargo for the Christmas period to keep the festive season running smoothly.

There will be a suspension of all non-essential roadworks in Chester city centre and all major towns and major retail outlet areas across the borough from noon on Monday 22 November 2021 until 11.59pm on Sunday 9 January 2022.

The suspension will cover Chester city centre, Ellesmere Port, Frodsham, Neston, Northwich and Winsford town centres.  Only essential emergency repairs to utility services will be granted permission to work on the road network in these areas, as well as the ongoing works for the Northgate drain project.

The Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Strategic Transport, Councillor Karen Shore said: “At this time of year we of course see a significant increase in visitors in and around our major shopping centres, in the run-up to and through the Christmas and New Year periods.

“A roadworks suspension has worked well in previous years and will help freight, visitors and shoppers access the borough’s wonderful shopping and leisure facilities by keeping traffic running smoothly.

“We can all play our part in keeping Chester and other busy areas moving by choosing to use one of our three high frequency Park and Ride services that come directly into the City of Chester.  Where possible you could use public transport and other alternative modes of transport like cycling or walking; or travel at less busy times of the day. If you don’t need to be in the City or near very busy areas, you could consider using alternative routes to avoid congestion and limiting the impact to your journey.

“We may, of course, need to grant permits for work on the road network during these dates if emergency repairs are needed to ensure the supply of vital utility services to homes and businesses.”

The suspension only applies to the borough’s road network, however the Council’s Highways Service is working with the other network operators, including National Highways and Network Rail, to minimise the impact of any proposed works on their own networks, through promoting off-peak and night-time working.

Full details:

Chester Area
No roadworks to take place within the area of the City Centre bounded by the City Walls and also on the following roads within a 2.5 mile (4km) radius from Chester Cross; A540, A5116, A41, A5480, A548, A56, A5115, A5104 and A483. (NB: this excludes the on-going works for the Northgate development, including the related drain project.)

Requests to work on all other roads within a 1 mile (1.6km) radius of Chester Cross will be considered on an individual basis dependant on their nature and traffic impact.

Ellesmere Port Area
No roadworks to take place within the town centre area and also on the following roads, within a 1.5 mile (2.5km) radius of Ellesmere Port Civic Hall; A5032, B5132, Pooltown Road (between A5032 and B5132) and also including A41 (from Backford to M53 Junction 5) and A5117 (from M56 Junction 16 to M56 Junction 14). (NB: this excludes the on-going works for Ellesmere Port Hub, as they are already in progress and due to be completed by 9 December 2021)

Neston Area
No roadworks to take place within the town centre area and also on the following roads within a 1.5 mile (2.5km) radius of the Cross; A540, B5134, B5135 and B5136.

Northwich Area
No roadworks to take place within the town centre area and also on the following roads within a 2 mile (3.2km) radius of the Municipal Building; A556, A533, A559, B5082 and School Lane, Hartford. (NB: This excludes works on London Road, Northwich to the pedestrian crossing and the current gas leak at this location and we are working to help facilitate the lights switch on subject to the emergency gas works)

Winsford Area
No roadworks to take place within the town centre area and also on the following roads within a one and a half mile (2.5km) radius of the Municipal Building; A54, A5018, B5074, Bradford Road and Road One.

Frodsham Area

No roadworks to take place on A56 High Street/Main Street between Howey Lane and Fluin Lane also Church Street and Fluin Lane to their junctions with Vicarage Road and A56. (NB: This excludes work on A56 Helsby from High School to Howey Lane for a segregated cycleway facility that falls just outside the embargo area.)