Crewe bypass opens today

It’s taken 15 months to build – and its opening follows a full weekend closure of the Crewe/Derby railway line to a allow a 2,000 tonne bridge to be installed – but the £26.5m Crewe Green Link Road is officially opening today.

Over the weekend, a 54-hour operation involved the use of two computer-controlled modular transporters, each with 128 wheels on either side, and creeping at less than one mile an hour, to move the 30 metre-long structure into position.

Principal contractor Morgan Sindall worked against the clock to install the bridge last Easter, ensuring that the job was completed in time for the line to be re-opened by Network Rail after the Bank Holiday.

The final stretch of road, which completes the eastern bypass around Crewe, is being opened by the Secretary of State for Transport, Patrick McLoughlin MP.

At 1.1km long the dual carriageway road forms a link between the A500 Hough-Shavington bypass and the A5020 Weston Road.

It unlocks nearly 100 hectares of potential development land for housing and businesses as well as alleviating huge congestion problems to the east of the town.

Cheshire East Council leader Michael Jones said: “The completion of Crewe Green Link Road is yet another fantastic achievement for this Council and demonstrates our total commitment to the regeneration and future growth strategy for the town.

“I have always stated how committed I am to providing infrastructure that alleviates the frustrations experienced by businesses and residents when travelling, and I am so pleased that Cheshire East Council has delivered yet another strategic highways project that will help to stimulate connectivity and attract new businesses and jobs to this great railway town.”

Part of the cost of Crewe Green Link Road  is met from a £15.6m grant from the DfT, the rest is met by Cheshire East Council and local developers.

The whole scheme includes extensive environmental impact measures for wildlife and the planting of hundreds of trees