Work on A556 Gadbrook Business Park Junction Improvement Scheme starts next week

Cheshire West and Chester Council’s £2.990 million A556 Improvement Scheme at the Gadbrook Business Park junction will begin on 5th October.

The scheme, which has funding support from the Department for Transport’s National Productivity Investment Fund (NPIF), will bring much needed congestion relief and productivity benefits to the A556 Gadbrook Business Park junction in Northwich.

This junction is the only access point into and out of the business park and tackling congestion at this location is highlighted as one of the key transport priorities for the Northwich Transport Strategy in support of the borough’s economy.

The scheme will deliver the following improvements:

• A dedicated free flow left turn lane from the business park onto the A556 – this will reduce traffic congestion especially in the afternoon peak hours.
• Extended right and left turn facilities into Gadbrook Park. This will increase capacity for traffic entering the park, particularly in the morning peak hours, and will improve traffic flows on the A556 for through traffic.
• Improvements to the traffic signal equipment – this will increase the efficiency of the signalised junction, and the updated equipment will be more robust for future maintenance and performance.
• Existing pedestrian and cycling facilities will also be enhanced, together with resurfacing of the carriageway through the junction.

Enabling works are underway on site now and temporary traffic signals, which will allow the junction to operate as normal throughout the works, will be installed on Friday 2 October.

Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Strategic Transport, Councillor Karen Shore said: “I am pleased to see this vital improvement scheme enter the construction phase, as this junction has been an identified congestion hotspot that impacts on business operations at strategically important employment site.  Reducing congestion and promoting active travel opportunities acts to support our continued efforts to tackle the climate emergency and improve air quality.

“The construction works will be carried out in phases, designed to minimise disruption to traffic as much as possible, with lane restrictions, temporary traffic signals and speed limit reductions used when necessary for safety reasons.  We apologise for any inconvenience caused and please allow extra time for your journey as these improvements are carried out.  In advance I would like to thank residents, businesses and road users for their cooperation.”

The first phase running from October to December will see the improvements on the Gadbrook Road (North) and the A556 Shurlach Road arms of the junction. The second phase beginning in the new year will see Cadent Gas diverting a high pressure gas main on the south of the junction ahead of the third phase which is the remaining widening works Business Park access road, with all works scheduled for completion in Spring 2021.