The M56 will be closed near Manchester Airport this weekend as the Highways Agency demolishes a bridge as part of its £5.5million 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 tomorrow 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.
Full details of the diversions, including maps have can be found at https://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/road-projects/m56-thorley-lane-scheme/