Winter in Cheshire East
We’re currently experiencing cold weather, and our gritting teams are busy treating the gritting routes. We also fill all grit bins, but please be patient as we might not get to them all straight away - any requests we receive to refill them will be actioned as soon as possible.
Gritting does not guarantee that a location will be free from snow and ice. For gritting to be effective, regular traffic movement is essential to break down the salt granules to form a saline solution which lowers the freezing point of water. Grit does not instantly remove snow and ice and it does not stop ice from forming during particularly low temperatures.
Therefore, please use reasonable precautions when using roads and footways, such as driving according to the conditions and only making journeys when absolutely necessary.
Follow @CECHighways on Twitter for daily gritting actions or click here to view our gritting routes.
Freezing temperatures and potholes
Winter weather often brings an increase in potholes appearing across the network due to the 'freeze thaw cycle'.
The freezing temperatures which occur at this time of year may impact on the condition of our roads. This is due to water seeping through cracks, freezing and expanding the cracks in the road. Vehicles then cause these cracks to collapse which can cause a pothole.
If you see a pothole, you can report it to us and we will attend to assess it and repair if it meets the criteria:
Works programme updates
Each month we update our website to show progress against schemes that are included in this year’s programme.
Our programme can be viewed here and will next be updated at the beginning of February:
Do you know how to report a highway issue?
Our online reporting tool allows you to report a range of highway issues from gullies to slippery surfaces, and lots more!
Currently, we are seeing an increase in street lighting reports. If you see a light out, a damaged column or a flickering light please report it to us online. As we don't carry out routine inspections on street lights, we rely on your reports to establish any issues across the network. Any issues presenting immediate danger should be called through to us on 0300 123 5020.
Due to the change in weather, slippery surfaces are also common at this time of year. If you're walking along a path that seems covered in leaves, or if you spot a gully that seems to be blocked please report it to us online.
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November highways highlights
We produce a summary report which shows an overview of the work we have completed. Did you know, in November we inspected 979.67km of the road network!
Gullies and drains
We have a set gully emptying programme, however sometimes we’re unable to clean every gully we visit first time and this can be due to a number of reasons:
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- Sometimes vehicles are parked over the gullies, so our tanker is not able to park close enough for the jet to reach
- The grate of the gully might be jammed or significantly broken and as a result, cannot be lifted
- The pipe may be obstructed if the gully is unaligned
- The suction boom may be obstructed due to overhanging trees or hedges
- This doesn’t mean that these gullies will not be cleaned, these gullies are flagged on our system for cleansing. Signage will be placed out and letter drops will take place where appropriate to notify residents of our intentions to clean these gullies before we plan to revisit.
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When to report a gully or drain
You should report a problem to us if:
- water flowing off the road is at risk of entering a building e.g. house or garage
- there is standing water on the road obstructing safe passage
- water on the road has not drained away after the rain has stopped
- there is a risk of ice forming on the road
- we have not already scheduled maintenance work
It would help us if you could use pictures or videos in your report of any flooding to help us to plan the work.
You can read more on our road gullies and drains webpage.
Please only report overflowing or blocked gullies if it is still causing a flood when the heavy rain clears.
If you notice that the fallen leaves on pavements or mud on the roads are causing a slip or skid hazard, please select the street sweeping category on fix my street.
Have your say!
Did you know that our webpages offer a feedback option? Let us know if you find our pages useful, or if there are areas for improvement by clicking 'can we improve this page?' at the bottom of each webpage.
Your feedback helps us create improved content for future webpages and allows us to make live changes so that the information we put out is useful and accurate.
Giving back to the community
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During December, our highways staff raised funds for several charities and donated a range of items to local food banks.
We visited St. Pauls Centre in Crewe to drop off food bank donations ahead of Christmas, as well as Sandbach food bank and The Storehouse Foodbank based at New Life Church in Congleton.
Over £500 in donations was also raised for the charity Shelter, and as part of the radio station Silk FM's toy appeal, books and toys were donated helping bring Christmas cheer to families.
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Works update
London Road, Alderley Edge Traffic Calming
Work to install traffic calming measures started on 23 January 2023. A 20mph zone and traffic calming features will be added in Alderley Edge Village centre and the surrounding area which will help to reduce unsafe speeds in the area.
The works will take place until 28 February under the following traffic management and closures:
Temporary traffic signals will operate from 30 January for about five weeks between 8am–6pm, including weekends. This is to allow for kerb widening works, sign replacement and installation of draining and pedestrian crossing traffic calming measures.
Temporary traffic lights will be operating in phases in:
- London Road near Heyes Lane junction for 10 days, 30 January to 8 February.
- London Road near Brown Street junction for 10 days, 8 February to 17 February; and
- Wilmslow Road near junction with Davey Lane for two days 27 February to 28 February.
Two road closure are required to allow for resurfacing, kerbing works, draining works and installation of traffic calming measures in phases:
- London Road/Congleton Road from Ryleys Lane to De Trafford Arms Hotel closed from 8am to 7pm, 11-12 February (weekend); and
- Ryleys Lane, closed for nine days during school half-term, from 18 February.
For more information on the scheme click here:
Finaker Brook Culvert Replacement
As part of our continual general maintenance and improvement, essential works have been identified on Finaker Brook, Coole Lane in Nantwich. As a result, we are carrying out culvert replacement works on Finaker Brook culvert.
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Coole Lane in Nantwich between Sunny Side Touring Park and the Canal Bridge has been closed 24 hours a day from 3 January and this will be in place for approximately 11 weeks to carry out culvert replacement works on Finaker Brook.
Thank you for your patience whilst we carry out these works.
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M6 Junction 16 to 15 Road Closures
National Highways are undertaking safety barrier upgrades to the M6 at junction 16 as the barrier here has reached the end of its serviceable life and now needs to be replaced.
The works will take place under a series of road closures, starting from 16 January. The first set of closures are as follows:
- 23 January to 28 January, M6 southbound closed from J16 to J15,
8pm to 6am.
- 30 January to 4 February, M6 southbound closed from J16 to J15,
8pm to 6am.
- 6 February to 11 February, M6 southbound closed from J17 to J15,
8pm to 6am.
Follow @HighwaysNWEST on Twitter for the most up to date information.
Broken Cross Roundabout
Developers are undertaking an agreed scheme to remove the roundabout at Broken Cross and replace it with a signal-controlled junction, linked to the new housing developments in the area.
Works have now recommenced at the junction following the Christmas break until late February, weather dependent. Details of these works including closures have been issued by the developer’s contractor. Visit their Twitter account for further information.
North West Crewe Package (NWCP)
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In the coming weeks, kerb installation at Leighton Hall Roundabout and Milehouse Roundabout will begin in preparation for the first surfacing visit. Other works at the roundabouts will include the installation of new lamp posts and road signs, and the creation of new footways/cycleways. |
The East/West Link Road and North/South Spine Road will see the installation of drainage and commencement of road construction.
The latest traffic management information is as follows:
- Recent developments have seen 2-way traffic lights installed on the A530 Middlewich Road just south of Flowers Lane and on Smithy Lane
- A530 Middlewich Road remains closed between Pyms lane and Smithy Lane – diversion is via Flowers Lane
- 2-way traffic lights are on the A530 Middlewich Road just south of Smithy Lane
- There are narrow lanes between Smithy Lane and the Biowise facility in place for the new Milehouse Roundabout works
Access to the hospital is unaffected to all users other than those on the A530 approaching from the direction of Nantwich. The Hospital ‘H’ symbol should be followed along the official diversion route. This route automatically becomes the existing hospital route at University Way.
You can keep you up to date with the project by signing to the North West Crewe Package newsletter.
For information on the scheme, visit our North West Crewe Package webpage.
What would you like to see?
Is there a specific topic which you would like to be covered in our next newsletter? Email cehcomms@cheshireeasthighways.org with your ideas, and we'll take them info consideration for future releases!
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