Repairs to a main road through the Peaks are finally set to get underway

Cheshire East Council has provided on the repair works to the B5470 Macclesfield Road in Rainow.

The road has been shut since January, when part of the embankment collapsed together with part of the carriageway.

With works beginning later this month, the council is expecting the road to be back open by March, 2026.

MP for Macclesfield, Tim Roca, said: "I completely understand the frustration that many residents and local businesses have expressed to me about how long this has taken.

"I have pressed Cheshire East Council hard to make sure these vital works progress as soon as possible.

"The road must be reopened as quickly as it can be and I will continue to monitor progress closely."

The B5470 Macclesfield Road has been shut since January (Credit: Nub News)

Vegetation work will begin this Wednesday, October 8.

This will be followed by the erection of a temporary pedestrian scaffolding footbridge from October 13.

The footbridge will be located to the south of the carriageway, roughly following the line of the old road.

The main repair works to fix the road collapse are due to start on Monday, October 27, and are expected to take around 20 weeks to complete.

"We appreciate working throughout winter is not ideal but starting in October will allow the road to be opened much sooner than if we delayed construction until spring 2026 due to weather," Cheshire East Council has stated.

"The works will incorporate a larger area than just the site of collapse due give full confidence in the repair of the highway and to completely remove and replace the underlying cause of the collapse.

"Consequently, the expected cost of this work is £1.6m.

"Regarding winter operations around site, gritting as usual will occur up until the closure point before following the diversion route.

"All roads on the diversion route are already on other gritting routes, so there won't be a concern regarding the safety of these roads.

"Road salt will be provided on site so the site operatives will grit from both closure points, including the pedestrian walkway around the works."