This Is Cheshire

Rush-hour drivers fume

From the Guardian Series, first published Wednesday 19th Mar 2003.

Traffic ground to a halt on a busy road into Knutsford yesterday (Tuesday) morning as the cones appeared yet again.

Hundreds of workers heading into town got stuck in queues of traffic as workmen cordoned off one side of Northwich Road and set up temporary traffic lights.

"I was lucky because I came in very early but many of the girls didn't get in until about 9.15am," said a member of staff at Alfred McAlpine in King Edward Road.

"It was awful and I've never seen traffic like it before."

It took one woman, who was heading to Knutsford from Northwich, more than an hour - instead of 20 minutes - to get to the council offices in Toft Road.

"At first I thought there had been an accident because I've never seen a queue that long - it stretched right the way back on to the A556," she said. "Many drivers got so bored of waiting that they tried to turn their cars around and go the opposite way.

"There didn't seem to be any warning signs anywhere until you got right up to the roadworks and people were surprised to see that was causing the problems." Yesterday (Tuesday) Cheshire County Council apologised to drivers for the last-minute decision to carry out the repair work, costing £45,000, between Tabley Grove and Sudlow Lane.

"Some maintenance work was cancelled elsewhere in the county and we took the opportunity at the last-minute to do this because we knew the road needed strengthening and resurfacing there," she said. "It seemed like a good opportunity to get it done and we do apologise for any delays."

Drivers can expect delays until the weekend. The road will be strengthened and rebuilt tomorrow and resurfaced on Friday.

On Thursday drivers can also expect delays - and diversions - in Bexton Road when a small stretch between Stanley Road and Toft Road is closed for repairs.

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