Historic day as Congleton Link Road officially opens

It has taken just over two years and £90m to build, but the Congleton Link Road, named Wolstenholme Elmy Way after Congleton's famous pioneering educationalist and suffragist, is now open for motorists.

The road was opened today (Monday, 19th April), following a weekend where members of the public enjoyed running, walking and cycling along the 5.5km stretch of traffic-free bypass.

The opening was marked by a small Covid-secure ribbon-cutting ceremony followed by a Beartown Road Cruise featuring 100 classic cars, including the Batmobile and a group of suffragettes.

It is anticipated that around half of the 13,000 vehicles using Clayton Bypass each day will now use the new road, making it easier for local people to get in and around Congleton.

The new highway joins the A534 Sandbach Road to the west and the A536 Macclesfield Road to the north.

There are exits off the new road onto the Sandbach, Holmes Chapel, Manchester and Macclesfield roads as well onto Back Lane and Barn Road/Viking Way.