Non-essential roadworks stop in Chester, Ellesmere Port, Northwich, Winsford, Neston and Frodsham from 15 November to 10 January. Updated November 2026.

Non-essential roadworks will stop on council-run roads in Chester and five other Cheshire West town centres from 11.59pm on Sunday 15 November 2026 until 11.59pm on Sunday 10 January 2027. Cheshire West and Chester Council says only essential emergency works and urgent repairs will be allowed in the affected areas during the Christmas shopping season.

The embargo covers Chester city centre, the town centres of Ellesmere Port, Frodsham, Neston, Northwich and Winsford, and the borough’s major retail destinations. The council runs it every year.

The quick answer

  • When: 11.59pm Sunday 15 November 2026 to 11.59pm Sunday 10 January 2027.
  • Where: Chester inside the City Walls plus nine main roads out to 2.5 miles from Chester Cross, and set zones in Ellesmere Port, Neston, Northwich, Winsford and Frodsham (listed below).
  • What still goes ahead: emergency works and urgent repairs.
  • What it does not cover: motorways and trunk roads run by National Highways, and the railway. The council says it is asking those operators to work off-peak or overnight where they can.
  • Park & Ride: £2.50 a person, or £5 for a day ticket for up to five people travelling together, with late-night Thursday buses from 19 November.

Why the council does it

Councillor Nathan Pardoe, Cabinet Member for Inclusive Economy, Regeneration and Digital Transformation, said: “The Christmas period is one of the busiest times of the year for our town and city centres, with more people travelling to shop, socialise and enjoy festive events.

“This annual roadworks suspension has worked well in previous years, helping to reduce disruption and make it easier for residents and visitors to access our fantastic shopping, hospitality and leisure attractions.

“While we will continue to allow emergency repairs where necessary to protect vital services for homes and businesses, the embargo will help minimise avoidable disruption at a particularly busy time of year.”

Which roads are covered

The council published the full boundaries for each area.

Chester. No roadworks inside the City Walls, and none on the A540, A5116, A41, A5480, A548, A56, A5115, A5104 and A483 within 2.5 miles (4km) of Chester Cross. Requests to work on any other road within one mile (1.6km) of the Cross will be judged one by one on their nature and traffic impact.

Ellesmere Port. No roadworks in the town centre, and none within 1.5 miles (2.5km) of the Civic Hall on the A5032, the B5132 and Pooltown Road between the two. The ban also covers the A41 from Backford to junction 5 of the M53, and the A5117 from junction 16 to junction 14 of the M56.

Neston. No roadworks in the town centre, and none on the A540, B5134, B5135 and B5136 within 1.5 miles (2.5km) of the Cross.

Northwich. No roadworks in the town centre, and none on the A556, A533, A559, B5082 and School Lane in Hartford within two miles (3.2km) of the Municipal Building.

Winsford. No roadworks in the town centre, and none on the A54, A5018, B5074, Bradford Road and Road One within 1.5 miles (2.5km) of the Municipal Building.

Frodsham. No roadworks on the A56 High Street and Main Street between Howey Lane and Fluin Lane, or on Church Street and Fluin Lane up to their junctions with Vicarage Road and the A56.

Getting into Chester by Park & Ride

The council is pointing Christmas shoppers to the city’s Park & Ride. A single fare is £2.50 a person, and there are cheaper tickets for families, groups and young people: a day ticket for up to five people travelling together costs £5.

Buses run every day, every 10 to 12 minutes from Monday to Saturday and every 15 minutes on Sundays and bank holidays. Extended late-night services for Christmas shoppers start on Thursday 19 November and run every Thursday until Christmas. The full timetable is on the Cheshire West and Chester Council website.

The council is also asking people to walk, cycle or use public transport where they can, or to travel outside the busiest times.

Chester’s Christmas Market opens on Wednesday 18 November, the same week the embargo starts. For the works already booked on motorways and trunk roads around the city, our Chester roadworks page is updated through the week.