Traffic bulletin: Drivers reminded of M56 weekend closure

Drivers are being reminded a section of the M56 west of Manchester Airport will be totally closed this weekend as work continues on an £85 million motorway upgrade.

National Highways is working across the weekend to install two 60 tonne ‘superspan’ gantries and other equipment along the motorway as part of the junction 6 to junction 8 upgrade. 

To allow the work to be done safely, the motorway will be closed in both directions from 9pm on Friday (25 March) to 5.30am on Monday (28 March). The eastbound M56 will be closed between junction 9 at Lymm Interchange to junction 5 for Manchester Airport; the westbound carriageway will be closed from junction 5 to junction 8 at Bowdon.

Clearly-signed diversions will be in place using good alternative motorway routes via the M60, M62 and M6 for westbound traffic and M6, M62 and M60 for eastbound drivers.

Access to Manchester Airport will be available from junction 5 at all times via the westbound M56 - with eastbound drivers from Cheshire, North Wales and Midlands needing to use the motorway diversion route from junction 9 of the M56 via the northbound M6, eastbound M62 and anti-clockwise M60 to access the westbound M56 for the airport.

National Highways project manager Clare Bond said: 

“Very good motorway diversions will be in place at the weekend but we are urging drivers to spend a little more time planning their journeys – including checking traffic conditions before setting out, leaving a bit of extra time for travelling and following the diversion information.”

Drivers are advised to check traffic conditions before setting out on journeys. Live traffic information is always available at www.trafficengland.com or from National Highways’ 24-7 customer contact centre at 0300 123 5000. Updates will also be posted to @HighwaysNWest – National Highways’ regional Twitter feed.

More information about the M56 motorway upgrade is available on the project webpage.