Drivers reminded of M56 weekend closure at Manchester Airport junction
Drivers across the North West are being reminded that the M56 will be closed near Manchester Airport this weekend as the Highways Agency demolishes a bridge as part of its £5.5m pinch point improvement in the area.
The motorway will be totally closed in both directions between junction 5 at Manchester Airport and junction 6 at Hale for up to 55 hours from 10pm on Friday night (Friday 1 August) and may be closed until 5am on Monday morning (4 August).
Drivers needing to access the airport from the M60 and Manchester will still be able to use the airport spur from the westbound M56 at junction 5. However, people heading towards the airport along the eastbound M56 from North Wales and Liverpool will need to leave at junction 6 for Hale and follow the short diversion using Runger Lane.
People travelling to the airport are being urged to leave extra time for journeys and check traffic conditions before setting out.
Drivers not needing to access the airport are strongly advised to avoid this section of the M56 over the weekend – people usually using the M56 to travel beyond Manchester Airport in either direction will be directed instead to use the M6, M62 and M60 instead via Lymm (M56), Croft (M62) and Eccles (M60) interchanges. Local diversions will also be in place.
More details of the work are available on the Highways Agency’s website
The Highways Agency is replacing the bridge in a £5.5m government ‘pinch-point’ initiative aimed at stimulating the creation of 3,000 new jobs at Davenport Green and Airport City by 2030 plus 5,650 homes around Altrincham, Bowdon and Hale by 2026
Installation of the new bridge has been pencilled in for November with further weekend closures of the motorway.
The project is one of 123 in the Government’s £317 million ‘pinch-point’ initiative – a two-year programme of targeted work being delivered alongside larger schemes and routine maintenance and improvements along the strategic road network.
The pinch-point programme, devised with the input of councils and local enterprise partnerships, is designed to help stimulate new development and local economic growth by improving road safety and tackling congestion bottle-necks. In all, 28 projects, worth £66 million, are being delivered across the North West.
General enquiries
Members of the public should contact the Highways Agency Information Line on 0300 123 5000.
Media enquiries
Journalists should contact the Highways Agency press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.