Dualling of A500 takes major stride forward

Cheshire East Council’s plans to dual the A500 have taken a major stride forward.

The £68.7m scheme has cleared a major hurdle – by securing programme entry and an allocation of £53m from the government, subject to final approval.

The project, which secured planning permission in April 2019, would dual a 3.4km section of the A500 between the M6 at junction 16 and Meremoor Moss roundabout, which is currently the only stretch of the A500 corridor that is single carriageway.

Councillor Craig Browne, Cheshire East Council deputy leader and cabinet member for strategic transport, said: “This is a big achievement and great news for the borough. I warmly congratulate our highways and infrastructure team for their work to secure this.

“Dualling this section of the A500 is a major project, designed specifically to improve traffic flow and connectivity and would complete the dualling of this key route. 

“The scheme will address existing congestion issues at peak times, increase network resilience and improve safety, as well as facilitate the development of key strategic sites in our Local Plan and secure future economic growth in and around Crewe, particularly from the construction and operation of HS2 and a HS2 hub station in Crewe. 

“The A500 is a key piece of infrastructure that links Crewe and surrounding areas to the M6 and across the important A50/ A500 corridor and was a key component of plans to boost strategic connectivity for key businesses in the region and access to what will be the nationally important HS2 Crewe hub station.

“I’d like to thank our colleagues in the strategic Constellation Partnership, who also lobbied government to get this project the green light.”

The proposals would see Meremoor Moss roundabout enlarged to create additional capacity. Where local roads cross the A500, at Barthomley Road and Radway Green Road, bridges would be lengthened to accommodate the wider road beneath.

The scheme has already received planning approval and a recent application for small amendments, following detailed design work, included a formal consultation phase, with the opportunity for all interested parties to comment and express their views.

With this announcement today, Cheshire East Council will be working flat out to bring the scheme through the final approvals and start construction at the earliest opportunity.

For more information, visit the council website at: www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/highways_and_roads/roadworks/major-projects/a500-dualling.aspx

● The original scheme planning application (reference 18/3766N) was approved in April 2019 with conditions.

● The proposed design changes require a new planning boundary to be established and consequently a new planning application was submitted on 24 April 2020. The planning application can be viewed on the planning portal. 

● Balfour Beatty was appointed as contractor for the scheme in 2019 and they have appointed Ramboll as their designer.

Pictured - View of the current A500 single carriageway.