Its route through both urban and steep rural areas presented a challenge to Cheshire County Council in maintaining the safety of the road.

Before this, at the point where the A34 now meets the A54 an unusual 28-foot (8.5 m) lighthouse was erected in 1924 bearing the words "Dangerous hill – change to low gear", backlit at night, to reduce accidents at the sharp bend.

The westbound carriageway is subject to a mix of fixed and mobile speed cameras on its sharp descent into the Dee valley.

Because of its urban environment and heavy traffic, it has a short section where it becomes a 3/4-lane dual carriageway in each direction between the Dene Drive and Collingham Way junctions.

After passing through Middlewich the A54 crosses over the M6 motorway at a conventional roundabout interchange, continuing through Holmes Chapel to Congleton, where it has a short overlap with the A34.

The rural nature and high accident record of the A54 from Congleton and Buxton means the road is subject to 50 mph average speed cameras.