People from North Wales catching flights from Manchester Airport this summer have been warned of delays and diversions as resurfacing work gets underway on the M56. Holidaymakers are being urged to set off in plenty of time as National Highways upgrades a four-mile stretch of road that carries more than 100,000 vehicles a day.
The work will be carried out overnight and only on one carriageway at a time. The schedule starts on Monday, June 10, and is due to be completed by the end of August.
Some full closures are planned but, for drivers heading east to the airport from Cheshire and North Wales, National Highways aims to have these “well out of the way” before the start of the school summer holidays. Work on the westbound carriageway, from Manchester, will carry on for another month but only local diversions will be needed.
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The eastbound carriageway from Cheshire will be closed for a total of 17 nights between Tuesday, June 11, and Wednesday, July 10. Depending on the date, one of two diversions will be in place. One will be short, unaffecting airport traffic; the other, from June 17-22, is via the M6, M62 and M60.
National Highways project manager Rob Williams said: “This is important, if routine, wear and tear work. We’re working closely with the airport to ensure they are aware of our timetable and a small number of overnight closures which will mean drivers needing to leave a little bit of extra time to get to work or check-in for flights.”
National Highways is resurfacing sections of worn carriageway in both directions between junction 5 at Manchester Airport and junction 6 at Hale Barn.
Some slip roads will also be resurfaced and the work includes replacing some bridge joints and traffic detection loops in the road surface. Work will take place between 9pm and 5am (7am on Saturdays) when the motorway is at its quietest. North Wales Live has a WhatsApp community group where you can get the latest stories delivered straight to your phone
The full schedule is laid out below. Eastbound airport traffic willl only be diverted when the work involves junction 7 (June 17-22).
M56 eastbound traffic
Junctions 6 to 4
- Tues, June 11, and Wed, June 12
- Mon, June 8, to Wed, July 10
M56 eastbound junction 6 to 5
- Thurs, June 13, and Fri, June 14
- Mon, June 24, to Thurs, June 27
- Thurs, July 4, and Fri, July 5
M56 eastbound junction 7 to 5
- Mon, June 17, to Fri, June 22
M56 westbound traffic
Junctions 5 to 6
- Mon, June 15; Tues, June 16; Thurs, June 18; and Fri, July 18
- Mon, June 22, to Fri, July 26
- Mon, June 29, and Tues, July 30
- Sun, June 4; Thurs, June 8; and Fri, August 9
Diversions
For work between junctions 7 and 5 (June 17-22), eastbound drivers heading to the airport and beyond will need to divert via the northbound M6, eastbound M62, anti-clockwise M60 and westbound M56.
On other dates, a diversion will operate between junction 6 and 4 via the local road network. Access will be available to the airport. For onward traffic in both directions, the diversion is via the A555, Styal Road and Simonsway.
Slip road closures
Two slip road closures affecting journeys to the airport will also be taking place:
- Eastbound exit slip road at junction 5: Closed on Friday, June 28. Eastbound drivers need to exit at junction 3a instead – joining the westbound M56, travelling back to junction 5 and using the westbound exit slip road to get to the airport.
- Westbound exit slip road at junction 5: Closed on Wednesday, July 17. Westbound drivers need to exit at junction 6 instead – joining the eastbound M56, travelling back to junction 5 and using the eastbound exit slip road to get to the airport.
Diversion routes will be clearly signposted. National Highways added: “Please do not follow your satnav during any closure and check your journey before you travel.
“We always aim to work to our schedule, but unforeseen circumstances such as severe weather conditions may mean slight changes occur at short notice.” Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox
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