Press release

M56 junction closure for new A556 works

Drivers are being advised junction 8 of the M56 near Bowdon in Cheshire will close for around 4 weeks from next month as part of construction work on Highways England’s new £192 million A556 link road between the M56 and M6.

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The junction, which provides access only to the westbound M56 from the southbound A556, will close from Monday 14 September as part of a second phase of works between Bowdon Roundabout and the Bucklow Hill junction. The closure will be accompanied by 7 overnight closures of both the southbound and northbound A556 between Bowdon Roundabout and Bucklow Hill between Monday, 14 September and Thursday, 24 September – with no closures on the Saturday or Sunday nights (19 and 20 September).

The overnight closures – from 9pm to 5am each night - are similar to a programme of overnight closures which took place in May and June.

Monday 14 September, from 9pm, will also see the scheduled closure of Cherry Tree Lane at its junction with the southbound A556 for around 6 months with a signed diversion in place.

Highways England A556 project manager Jonathan Stokes said:

These are scheduled closures for key elements of the improvements we are making to the existing northern section of the A556 to accommodate the new dual carriageway.

Clearly-signed diversions will be in place during each of the closures we’ll be requiring next month but we would like to thank drivers and local people for their continued patience and support.

Construction work on the new link road – which will bypass most of the existing route – began in November and is planned to open early in 2017.

The month-long closure of junction 8 is for work to refurbish the Chester Road bridge which carries the A556 and start of the slip road over the motorway.

Drivers needing to access the westbound M56 can use alternative motorway junctions such as junction 6 at Hale or use the official diversion - joining the westbound M56 from the M6 at Lymm Interchange via the A56 through Lymm, A50 to junction 20 of the M6 and southbound M6 to the interchange.

Signed diversions will also be in place for the A556 overnight and long-term Cherry Tree Lane closures.

Anyone seeking more information about the project, closures or diversion routes can visit the project webpage or contact the project’s community liaison team on 07824 303403 or 07717 838978 or by emailing A556HAIL@costain.com.

General enquiries

Members of the public should contact the Highways England customer contact centre on 0300 123 5000.

Media enquiries

Journalists should contact the Highways England press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.

Published 20 August 2015