Highways bosses say a number factors caused the traffic chaos across Nantwich this week.
Thousands have been caught up in gridlock as a result of resurfacing work at the junction of Hospital Street, London Road and Millstone Lane, in Nantwich.
And it was made worse by over-running works, M6 incidents, and broken machinery.
But the council declined to explain why resurfacing required a closure and was not completed in quieter summer period.
The gridlock led some drivers to carry out dangerous acts such as queuing on the Nantwich level crossing when the barriers are down (pictured).
A spokesperson for Cheshire East Council told us: “Cheshire East’s highways teams are engaged in essential resurfacing work at the junction of Hospital Street, London Road and Millstone Lane, in Nantwich.
“This is a residential area and, therefore, this work is taking place during daylight hours and cannot be undertaken at night time.
“Full closure is required but access is permitted for local residents and businesses.
“Contractors experienced a fault with essential machinery, which extended the required closure time, although steps were taken to resolve this issue as quickly as possible.
“An accident on the M6 motorway at the time of this congestion compounded the problem and increased local traffic flows.
“There was an overrun on unrelated gas-main works alongside the diversion.
“While this is not associated with our highways work, we can confirm the traffic management arrangements put in place enabled free flow of traffic in both directions past the works area.
“We would urge drivers to follow the diversions in place and follow all traffic management signs – and not put themselves, or any other motorists, road users or pedestrians, at risk.”
Resurfacing work at the junction of Hospital Street, London Road and Millstone Lane is set to continue until October 1.
No excuse for a closure at all. The works can be done under traffic lights. It is elsewhere and another planning blunder up the road at Rising Sun A530, road restrictions when not required?
Such an epic fail, Poorly planned, Next time it should be done after 7pm until 7am the following day, to avoid this chaos.
The railway crossings are maintained at night regularly, and they are close to housing, so what is the difference?!
It will get worse as we have far too many houses serving these roads.
Odd that they couldn’t do the work at night, they resurfaced Hospital Streer over two nights working till 1am not so long ago and there are more residents there!
These diversion signs were not fit for purpose.
On Thursday London rd was open to traffic
Would have been helpful if half the road could stay open as closing two roads that merge was ridiculous, as the workmen were only in one small section at a time.
Years ago we would have police directing traffic, none visible here, which led to unbelievable selfish/dangerous driving, like leaving large gaps between vehicles in a queue so the driver could coast!! And the brain dead actually stopping on a level crossing!!!!
Increased traffic did not cause those drivers to enter the level crossing. There is no excuse for doing that – the highway code
is quite clear on how you should approach yellow boxes. They need to be fined and sent on a driver awareness course.
There is no excuse for poor driving, and I think it is irresponsible of The Nantwich News to suggest the gridlock was to blame for such incidents. Inpatient drivers such as this could quite possibly have led to a major accident.
The crossing has cameras and I understand it is a £100 fine and 6 points on your licence. Big signs on bouth sides of the crossing so perhaps the dirvers in question will learn there lesson.