Chelford Road, Prestbury -partial culvert collapse

Following a partial culvert collapse and failure of a small section of carriageway on Chelford Road, Prestbury, south of the junction with Castle Hill / The Village Prestbury, a road closure is currently in place until repair works are completed.

What is happening?

To facilitate the initial investigation into the partial culvert collapse and the extents of the carriageway failure, the road will need to be closed until further notice.

We have now completed the initial investigations into the failure of the carriageway. The solution has been complicated by the presence of utility services that run over and through the structure. We will work with the utility companies to resolve this issue and repair the carriageway. Investigatory works took place from 3 February 2025 and week commencing 10 February 2025 to identify the extents and cause of the failure. 

Following the investigation works completed earlier in February, the initial drainage surveys have identified that there are 3 separate defects affecting the culvert: 

• the manhole support in the centre of the collapsed area has failed and is restricting the flow of the culvert
• the stone slab downstream of the manhole has failed, with 2 electricity ducts and a water main located in the gap 
• the culvert ground support has failed upstream of the manhole, allowing water to flow outside of the culvert line, washing out beneath the carriageway

Final investigation works are required to identify the exact location of the culvert ground support failure. Once this has been identified, the design for the repair will be completed and we will be able to share a definitive timeframe for the works to be carried out.

Given the necessary investigative work required, it is too early to provide a definitive timeframe for reopening the road. We will provide updates to the public on this webpage and via our highways X account @CECHighways as soon as more information becomes available following the completion of the necessary investigatory works.

Diversion route

There is a signed diversion in place and members of the travelling public, including cyclists are advised to follow this. See the full diversion route.

Further information:

• Emergency access will not be maintained due to the condition of the carriageway
• Emergency services are aware of the closure and the diversion arrangements are in place for emergency vehicles
• The road closure is necessary to protect the safety of both members of the public and our workforce 
• Diversion routes are in place and signed 
• Local businesses remain open and access will be facilitated where possible via diversion routes 
• Delays are expected and motorists should plan journeys