Work begins on the A500

AudlemOnline understands that work has now begun on a multi-million-pound road improvements scheme by Cheshire East. The scheme is currently improving the A500 near Crewe.

Vegetation clearance is being carried out on the verge and roundabout area of the A500, near to Junction 16 of the M6, as part of advance works by the Highways Agency for the widening of the A500 near Junction 16, that is due to be carried out this year.

This is part of a joint scheme between Cheshire East Council and the Highways Agency that will see the installation of traffic signals on Junction 16 and the widening of the A500 to two lanes approaching the junction.

Funding for this joint scheme has been received from the Department for Transport's (DfT) 'pinch point' programme and the project will be managed by the Highways Agency under agreement with the Council.

The scheme is due to commence early in June, with completion set for Christmas.
For safety reasons, construction work will be carried out under a 50mph speed limit restriction and overnight closures, which will be co-ordinated with other road schemes planned on the wider road network to minimise disruption to traffic.

Councillor Michael Jones, Leader of Cheshire East Council, said: "Getting this scheme under way is more great news for future jobs and the economic regeneration of Crewe. "Cheshire East Council's bid for road infrastructure improvements in and around Crewe has been highly successful, with the final piece in the jigsaw secured last June, when it was awarded £2m of funding by the DfT for local 'pinch points'.

"This work is part of the Council's vision for a less-congested and better-integrated road network that will help transform Crewe and surrounding areas into an economic powerhouse by 2030. This Council is continuing to deliver on that ambition.

"This scheme is the culmination of several years of hard work and lobbying by the Council and is the latest in a series of successful road bids for the Council to deliver better connectivity and jobs-led, plan-led growth for the people of Cheshire East.

"One of our key aims is for Cheshire East to have a strong and resilient economy and improving the roads in and around the Borough ensures that we will gain an even greater reputation as an excellent place to do business." The A500 scheme will see a 600 metre-long widening of the A500 on the approach to the M6 at junction 16 on the Crewe side.

This will create an additional full-length lane along that stretch of the A500, which will then taper into a shorter third lane. It will help ease traffic congestion to the proposed Basford East and West development sites.

These are strategic employment sites that are a key part in the council's vision to help create up to 12,500 jobs over the next two decades as part of the ambitious 'All Change for Crewe' programme.

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