The opening of the long-awaited Reaseheath Bypass in Nantwich looks set to be delayed until October.
Residents say they have been told by contractors that the road is now set to open in October at the earliest, despite Cheshire East Council previously stating it would be open by the end summer.
The roundabout at Reaseheath was closed off the Worleston exit for most of August to widen it where the bypass begins, but this is now re-opened.
The opening of the bypass was a condition set down in the original approval for the 1,000 new homes on the Kingsbourne development.
It is designed to help traffic from the development access the main route to Chester and North Wales without having to cut through Nantwich, benefiting residents on Davenport Avenue and Manor Road.
And it should alleviate heavy traffic on the A51 past a number of residential cottages.
Kingsbourne resident Margot Seymour, a retired public servant, said the bypass opening would make a big difference to neighbours living at the Reaseheath end of the development.
She said: “The wait is irritating as we have to go all the way through Kingsbourne to exit at the football club traffic lights which is a very busy junction.
“It would make life easier for many of us if the road were to open soon.”
But some on Kingsbourne and Kingsley Village are also concerned it will serve as a rat-run for many travelling from Chester and cutting through the estate to reach Waterlode and the town centre more quickly.
Kingsley Village resident Janice Roberts added: “We looked at moving to a newer house on the Kingsbourne development opposite but decided against.
“Our concern was the new road would create a ‘rat run’ of drivers taking a short cut from the town heading towards Chester.
“Although it would useful as we travel there often we stayed put on Kingsley which has just one road in and out making for a more peaceful setting.”
Some residents have tried to get information from developers.
Another, who asked not to be named, said: “When we moved here in 2024 Taylor Wimpey said the road would open when they had moved off site and they are still building apartments at the top end so it could be some time yet.”
The road was originally scheduled to be opened in February 2022.
But a series of delays around numbers of houses built, funding, and improvements and amendments to original road plans have setback the opening time and again.
We have approached Cheshire East Council as the highways authority for clarification on the opening date, and are awaiting a reply.
In a statement in July, Councillor Liz Braithwaite, vice-chair of Cheshire East Council’s highways and transport committee, said: “We’re working closely with the developer and their contractor to complete the remaining sections and open the route to the public as soon as possible.
“While we’re not yet able to confirm an exact opening date, we’re aiming for completion by the end of summer, depending on how quickly the developers can complete their legal agreements.
“We know this route will play an important role in improving local travel and supporting future development, and we’re committed to completing it as soon as we can.”
Total incompetence and yet more lies.
With any major infrastructure project there may be a little slippage but 4 years!!!!!!!!!!
Looks like 2025 will end before this bypass is opened.
Any bets on it opening before the end of 2026?
No, I wouldn’t either….
This is a disgrace. One way in and one way out for 1000 and probably at least 1500 commuters. It is absolutely carnage trying to get off the estate in a morning.
The excuses the estate have been provided are pathetic and thoughtless. They need to step up. Make a quick plan agree it and move forward.
Will be a nice short cut into Nantwich from middlewich road
Getting this completed, on time, was surely the job of a very senior officer working for CEC. He or she has failed miserably in this task. Is there any chance that that person will get a kick up the backside ? As if !
@Stewart Handler
Agree totally. Its become an overused rat-run to connect the bypass and the estate and people think 60mph is justified. And there are a load of pedestrian exists that now go straight on to the road. As Billy Bragg said, its an accident waiting to happen.
Motorists now use Welshmans Lane as a rat run and as it is derestricted, feel completely justified driving at 60mph on a narrow lane with blind bends and multiple entrances and public footpaths. The sooner they open the new road, the better.
In other news… Lord Lucan is found, the Loch Ness monster reviews a new TV series, and the Moon is found to be made of green cheese… 🙂
Which year please ?
CEC at its best. The road should have been opened weeks ago but it is still too narrow.
The road through Kingsbourne may be used as a rat run to get into Nantwich town centre, but there will be less traffic using Manor Road and Snow Hill to access the Kingsbourne estate. Swings and roundabouts – sorry about the pun!