Traffic calming measures to reduce impact of town’s new link road

21 July 2020

Residents and businesses close to a town’s new link road are to benefit from traffic calming measures to be introduced by Cheshire East Council.

The council will begin work in Padgbury Lane, in Congleton, from 27 July, as part of a wider package of measures to mitigate any impact on local roads from the new Congleton Link Road. Further similar work will follow in Wallhill Lane, with the whole scheme scheduled to be completed by 6 September 2020. 

The project is intended to deter traffic from using these roads as shortcuts and to prevent speeding.

A road closure will be in place for the duration of the works to implement the scheme and traffic will be diverted through Newcastle Road and Sandbach Road.  Following completion of the Padgbury Lane element of the scheme, work will begin in Wallhill Lane in August, to manage speeding traffic and further improve road safety.

The measures aim to deter the use of Padgbury Lane as a cut-through to the new bypass and will also address the long-standing issue of speeding traffic on both routes, therefore improving road safety, reducing speed and noise. 

The mitigation measures will see a variety of improvements, including the introduction of traffic lanes at the junction with Newcastle Road, the installation of mini-roundabouts at junctions along Padgbury Lane, new chicanes, a zebra crossing at Greenacres Road and dropped kerbs to aid pedestrians and cyclists. Vehicle-activated signs, to monitor and display approaching traffic speeds, will also be introduced.

Councillor Laura Crane, Cheshire East Council cabinet member for highways and waste, said: “This scheme should improve safety and reduce speeding on Padgbury Lane and Wallhill Lane – and help mitigate the impacts on surrounding routes of the Congleton Link Road. The new measures demonstrate our continued commitment to improving road safety across the borough.

“I would like to thank residents for their patience and support during the construction of the link road, which will deliver vast improvements to life in the town, while creating new jobs. These measures are part of a series of mitigation measures to keep local residents safe as part of the wider scheme.”

Council deputy leader, Craig Browne, said: “Congleton Link Road is a £90m scheme which opens up new sites for housing and employment in the town as well as improving the highway links across the borough. The council is injecting £24m into the project with funding also coming from central government and developer contributions.

“These measures will ensure the benefits of the new road are maximised with minimum impact on the local community.”