Middlewich Eastern Bypass (MEB)

The scheme

The Middlewich Eastern Bypass will deliver a new two-way single carriageway road, connecting a new roundabout junction off Pochin Way in the north to another new roundabout junction to the south, linking with the A533 Booth Lane. The 1.6-mile scheme includes: 

• a new bridge over the Trent and Mersey Canal
• a new bridge over the Sandbach-to-Northwich railway line
• three new roundabouts at Pochin Way, Cledford Lane and Booth Lane
• a combined cycleway and footpath, supporting the council’s commitment to active travel and greener transport
• creation of new environmental habitats including: ponds, bat roosts and tree-planting 

The council has appointed Balfour Beatty as its contractor to begin construction works from May 2026. 

The current estimated total scheme cost is £106.3m, which includes spend in previous years to develop the outline business case. This cost is approved within the council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy 2025–2029.

Traffic management 

Throughout the scheme there will be traffic management impact on the highways network while utility providers divert their equipment and when the main works are underway. 

Current programmed traffic management:

• There are currently two-way lights at Booth Lane until Friday 24 April for a United Utilities diversion
• There will be two-way lights at Booth Lane from Monday 27 April to Friday 8 May for a Scottish Power diversion
• Cledford Lane will be closed from Wednesday 29 April to Friday 29 May United Utilities works
• There will be two-way lights at Pochin Way from Wednesday 22 April to Friday 24 April for construction deliveries
• There will be two-way lights at Pochin Way from Monday 27 April to Wednesday 3 June for United Utilities works
• There will be two-way lights at Pochin Way from Monday 15 June to Friday 26 June for BT Openreach works

The most up to date information on the network in the Middlewich area including diversion routes, can be found at: https://one.network/