Cheshire East highways team hold firm in face of Storm Doris

February 24, 2017

While many people remained in their homes, the highways response team for Cheshire East Council were busy ensuring that the borough’s residents were still able to continue with their normal daily lives.

Gusts of up to 80mph did not deter the highways team from dealing with more than 200 incidents ranging from localised flooding to falling trees. More than 136 of those had already been successfully dealt with by lunchtime today.

Disruption to the road network was spread across the borough but the majority of incidents happened in Congleton, Crewe, and Knutsford. Among the incidents, the highways team dealt with were:

• a fallen tree which blocked the A34 Manchester Road, Congleton
• structural damage to a wall on Nixon Street, Crewe which blocked the road
• a fallen telegraph pole on London Road, Adlington, Macclesfield
• a diesel spillage on the Nantwich bypass; and
• a fallen tree which blocked the A534 OId Mill Road; in Sandbach, towards the M6

Throughout the day, close communications were maintained with the emergency services and other partner agencies to ensure that the impact of any disruption across the wider region was considered and prompt responses made.

The Thelwall viaduct (M6 Junction 20-21) was closed for a large part of yesterday but the road network in Cheshire East coped well.

To maintain the safety of residents and road users at all times, a number of roads were closed, including the A50, which reopened at lunchtime today. All other roads that closed temporarily were reopened yesterday.9

There were some power issues which affected traffic signals in Monks Heath and Plumley but these are now back up and running again.

Councillor David Brown, cabinet member for highways and infrastructure, said: “The true test of a highways team is how they react when the going gets tough – as it did yesterday.

“I’m proud that our team of operatives and inspectors were able to completely stay on top of a rapidly-changing situation, including many colleagues, who worked long into the night.”

Any outstanding road closures will be monitored and work will be completed to make roads safe so that they can be opened as quickly as possible.

As part of its continued response, the highways team is also working closely with Cheshire East Council’s arms-length company Ansa to ensure that roads that require sweeping are kept clean.

We advise members of the public to report any issues via the customer contact centre on 0300 123 5020 and not via social media, to ensure that incidences are appropriately logged and responded to.