A530 Baddington Lane - Emergency Road Closure 

The A530 at Baddington Lane Railway Bridge is closed to all users with immediate effect following the latest inspection of the bridge.

A structural defect has been identified and, as a precaution, the road will remain closed while a detailed engineering inspection and assessment takes place.

At this stage, we do not know how long the closure will be in place. The bridge will remain closed while its condition is assessed and until it can be confirmed that it is safe to reopen.

Diversion route

A signed diversion route is in place and drivers should follow the signs.

Please do not use Coole Lane as an alternative route, as it is unsuitable for some vehicles.

We appreciate that the closure will cause disruption and thank you for your patience and understanding.

We’ll update this webpage as soon as we have more information following the engineering assessment.

About Baddington Lane Bridge

Baddington Lane Bridge carries the A530 over the dismantled Nantwich to Market Drayton railway line and is owned and managed by the Historic Railways Estate (HRE).

The bridge was already subject to a temporary 7.5-tonne structural weight restriction due to its reduced structural capacity. Work to develop a long-term solution for the bridge and the adjoining embankment is ongoing.

Further updates will be shared on this webpage, our highways X account @CECHighways and the Cheshire East Council Facebook page as soon as more information is available.

Current position

Before the emergency closure, work was progressing on a long-term solution for Baddington Lane Bridge and the adjoining embankment.

An options study had been completed, along with ecological and topographical surveys and ground investigations. Detailed design work and final approvals were due to continue, with repair works expected to start during the 2027/28 financial year.

Following the change in the condition of the bridge and the emergency closure, this work will now be put on hold while detailed investigations and assessments are carried out.

The immediate priority is to fully understand the condition of the structure and determine what action is needed to ensure it is safe. Once these investigations are complete, we will review what this means for the longer-term plans and programme for the bridge.

We’ll provide a further update as soon as we have more information.

Further information

• Coole Lane must not be used as a diversion route.
• Emergency services are aware of the diversion route.
• Local businesses remain open.