M56 motorway

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M56 shield
M56
North Cheshire Motorway
Looking east from Junction 14
Route information
Part of E 22
Maintained by Highways England
Length33.3 mi (53.6 km)
Existed1971–present
History
  • Opened: 1971
  • Completed: 1981
Major junctions
East endCheadle
 
  • Junction 1.svg UK-Motorway-M60.svg
    J1 → M60 motorway
  • Junction 9.svg UK-Motorway-M6.svg
    J9 → M6 motorway
  • Junction 15.svg UK-Motorway-M53.svg
    J15 → M53 motorway
West endMollington
Location
CountiesGreater Manchester, Cheshire
Primary
destinations
  • Manchester
  • Manchester Airport
  • Warrington
  • Runcorn
  • Ellesmere Port
Road network
  • Roads in the United Kingdom
← M55→ M57

The M56 motorway, also known as the North Cheshire motorway, is located in Cheshire and Greater Manchester, England. It runs east-west from Junction 4 of the M60 at Gatley to Dunkirk, approximately four miles (six kilometres) north of Chester. With a length of 33.3 miles (53.6 km), it connects North Wales and the Wirral peninsula with much of the rest of North West England, serves business and commuter traffic heading towards Manchester, particularly that from the wider Cheshire area, and provides the main road access to Manchester Airport from the national motorway network.[1]

Between junctions 9 and 16, the motorway forms part of the unsigned European route E22 on its route in the UK between Holyhead in Anglesey and Immingham in Lincolnshire.

Route[]

Although the main line of the motorway starts as a continuation of the A5103 Princess Parkway, the M56 begins on Sharston Spur (also known as the Sharston Bypass) where it detaches from the M60 motorway. After passing through junctions 1 and 2, the spur joins the main line at junction 3, increasing from two lanes to four to accommodate Manchester Airport traffic.

The road then heads south to the west of Wythenshawe and Manchester Airport until it reaches junction 6, where it turns west. It runs to the south of Hale, reducing to three lanes. It passes junctions 7 and 8 which are part of the same complex. Junction 8 was planned to be used by the proposed A556(M).[2] The A556 was upgraded to dual carriageway in 2018,[3] Traffic for the southbound M6 leaves here and so the junction can suffer from congestion. The motorway then enters a more rural setting between Broomedge and High Legh.

After meeting the M6 motorway, it passes south of Appleton Thorn. After reaching junction 11, it runs through the outskirts of Runcorn and Frodsham. Between junctions 12 and 14, and the missing junction 13, it runs parallel to the River Mersey and the Manchester Ship Canal. After meeting the M53 motorway, the road finally returns to two lanes, it proceeds between Chester to the south and Ellesmere Port to its termination at Dunkirk, Cheshire, where it becomes the A494.

Traffic for North Wales can take either the M53 or the A494 to reach the A55.

The motorway services on the M56 are Chester (Run by Roadchef) and Lymm (Run by Moto, also accessible from M6)

History[]

The first proposal for a motorway across north Cheshire was mooted in 1947 in a report commissioned by Cheshire County Council,[4] with a line for the route of the motorway being agreed in 1958 between the council and the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation.[5] The first section, announced in November 1963 by the transport minister Ernest Marples, was a southwards extension of the Princess Parkway from Wythenshawe in Manchester to the A56 and A556 at Bowdon which entered the Trunk Road Programme for 1967/1968.[5] Construction began in 1968,[6] and the motorway opened in stages between 1971 and 1981:[7]

  • Junctions 11 to 14: Opened in 1971.
  • Junctions 3 to 7: Opened in 1972.
  • Junctions 7 to 9: Opened in 1974.
  • Junctions 1 to 3 and 9 to 11: Opened in 1975.
  • Junctions 14 to 16: Opened in 1981. This contains the only section of the motorway paved with concrete, between junctions 15 and 16. Where it crosses the floodplain of the River Gowy, the carriageway sits on an embankment made of sandstone from a special-purpose quarry, which was constructed to replace existing peat deposits. The junction with the M53 at Stoak was also included in the construction contracts.[8]

Proposals existed for an extension into North Wales across the proposed Dee Barrage,[9][10] but as of the 2020s these have never materialised.

The carriageway between junctions 4 and 6 was widened from the original dual 3 lane configuration to dual 4 lanes during the 1990s as part of a nationwide motorway widening programme first proposed in the 1989 Roads to Prosperity white paper.[11] Junction 5 became a lane drop/gain in both directions whereas junction 4 was reconfigured from a two-bridge roundabout to a signalised half-diamond with a single bridge.[12]

Prior to 2008, the western end of the motorway terminated at a roundabout on the A5117. Work began in 2006 to grade-separate this junction (and others) to allow free-flowing traffic between the motorway and the A550 at Deeside in North Wales, meaning that the mainline motorway no longer connects to the roundabout (it meets the extended A494 head-on 235 metres east),[13] with the former eastbound carriageway retained as an on-slip.[14]

Junctions[]

Data[15] from driver location signs is used to provide distance information.

M56 motorway junctions
mile km Eastbound exits (B Carriageway) Junction Westbound exits (A Carriageway)
Motorway merges onto M60 continuing towards Stockport M60 J4 Start of motorway
(Sharston Spur)
Manchester City Centre, Didsbury A34 J1 No access (on-slip only)
No access (on-slip only) J2 Altrincham, Wythenshawe A560, Liverpool (M62), Bolton (M61) (M60)
Princess Parkway Spur ↓
End of motorway Mauritius Road Signs - Information Sign - End of Motorway.svg
Road continues as A5103 towards Manchester 		J3A Sharston, Altrincham, Baguley A560
Altrincham, Wythenshawe, Wythenshawe UK traffic sign 827.2.svg, Cheadle A560 Start of motorway
(Princess Parkway Spur) UK motorway symbol.svg
↑
Manchester City Centre, (M60(N&W)), (M62(W)), (M61) (A5103) J3
(TOTSO EB) 		No access (on-slip only)
7.2 11.6 No access (on-slip only) J4 Wythenshawe
Airport Spur ↓
End of motorway Mauritius Road Signs - Information Sign - End of Motorway.svg
Wilmslow, Wythenshawe A555 , Business Park, Terminal 3
Terminal 1, 		UK traffic sign 543.svg Start of motorway
(Airport Spur) UK motorway symbol.svg
Terminal 2 No access (on-slip only)
↑
7.8 12.6 Manchester Airport interchange J5 Manchester Airport interchange, Quarry Bank Mill
8.9 14.3 Hale, Wilmslow, Macclesfield A538 J6 Wilmslow, Hale, Macclesfield, Manchester Airport Freight Terminal A538
Entering Greater Manchester River Bollin
River Bollin Entering Cheshire
12.4 19.9 Northwich A556, Altrincham A56 J7 Birmingham (M6(S)), Northwich A556,

Lymm A56

No access J8 No access (on-slip only)
17.6 28.3 Preston, Birmingham M6, Leeds, Manchester (N) (M62), Lymm (A50)
Lymm Truck Stop 		J9
Services 		Preston M6, Liverpool (M62), Warrington, Lymm (A50)
Lymm Truck Stop
20.8 33.4 Warrington, Northwich A49 J10 Northwich, Warrington A49
23.8 38.3 Runcorn (East), Warrington A56 J11 Preston Brook, Daresbury A56
26.8 43.1 Liverpool Airport interchange, Runcorn, Widnes A557 J12 Liverpool Airport interchange, Frodsham, Runcorn, Widnes A557
Weaver Viaduct
31.9 51.4 Stanlow, Helsby A5117
Chester services 		J14
Services 		Helsby, Stanlow, Chester Zoo A5117
Chester services
34.5 55.6 No access (on-slip only) J15 Chester, Wrexham M53
No access (on-slip only) Ellesmere Port, Birkenhead M53
Start of motorway UK motorway symbol.svg J16 No access
Ellesmere Port A5117, Whitchurch (A41)
Non-motorway traffic 		End of motorway Mauritius Road Signs - Information Sign - End of Motorway.svg
Road continues as A494 towards North Wales
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
  •       Incomplete access

Junction 7 slip closures[]

At junction 7 in July 2009, the slip road letting traffic come in southbound along the M56 and turn onto the A556 southbound was closed while the bridge where it crosses the M56 (the Bowdon View Bridge), which for many years had had a weight restriction, was worked on; traffic intending to use it had to carry on to junction 10 and there turn round, or go through the centre of Altrincham; traffic for the nearby Tatton Park Flower Show, and the resulting closure to through traffic of the minor road along the southwest edge of Tatton Park from Ashley, Cheshire to Mere, Cheshire (which would otherwise have acted as a bypass for people living in the area), added to the resulting congestion.

In October and November 2010, the bridge was demolished and replaced.[16][17][18][19]

Thorley Lane bridge replacement[]

On Saturday 28 February and Sunday 1 March 2015, the new concrete girders of the Thorley Lane bridge a little north of Manchester Airport were put in. (The old bridge was demolished because it was found to be cracking.) The M56 was closed over that weekend for this. This caused much traffic congestion from M56 traffic diverted through Altrincham and Wythenshawe and along Styal Road and Kingsway, starting on Thursday 26 March because of work putting cones on the carriageway.

Traffic counts[]

[20]

Section Capacity AADT (2019) Count point data
J1-J2 D2 96,643 Decrease 6046, 73773
J2-J3 72,019 Increase 36045
J3-J3A
(Princess Parkway Spur) 		D3 102,674 Increase 99833
J3-J4 D4 174,693 Increase 26047
J4-J5 150,675 Decrease 6047
Airport Spur D2 67,863 Increase 89289
J5-J6 D4 138,257 Increase 16044
J6-J7 D3 118,528 Increase 46044
J7-J8 82,528 Increase 8025
J8-J9 87,582 Increase 6048
J9-J10 117,996 Decrease 56047, 73275
J10-J11 107,049 Decrease 16045, 73448
J11-J12 100,488 Decrease 46045
J12-J14 113,408 Decrease 26049, 73282
J14-J15 120,523 Increase 7831
J15-J16 D2 44,042 Increase 37919

Upgrades[]

Smart motorway[]

The government announced in August 2015[21] that the motorway between junctions 6 and 8 would be upgraded to a smart motorway as part of its Northern Powerhouse strategy; work began in 2020 with completion anticipated by the end of 2021.[22] The project will with the exception of the slip roads at the airport junction give the motorway four running lanes on each carriageway between junctions 3 and 7, a distance of seven miles.

The Minister of State for Transport however ruled out similar work being undertaken between junctions 12 and 14 before 2020, despite pressure from MPs whose constituencies lie near the motorway.[23]

Junction 11a[]

There was also to be a new junction 11a at Runcorn between the existing Junctions 11 and 12 to relieve heavy congestion on this stretch and serve the new Mersey Gateway bridge. However, this project was cancelled by Highways England in Spring 2020 as it didn't represent value for money.[24][25]

M56 corridor[]

"The M56 corridor" is a term used by estate agents and social geographers to describe what is considered to be a relatively affluent area of North West England, within easy reach of the M56. The area includes the cities of Manchester and Chester, and commuter towns and villages in rural Cheshire. It also includes Warrington and Runcorn where the chemical and pharmaceutical industries are prominent.[26]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Motorway Database » M56". CBRD. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  2. ^ Steven Jukes. "Pathetic Motorways - A556(M)". Pathetic.org.uk. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  3. ^ "Highways Agency Press Release". Highways.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 17 July 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  4. ^ Chapman, W. Dobson (1947). County Palatine: A Survey and Plan for Cheshire.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b "The Motorway Archive - M56 Scheme Introduction". Iht.org. Archived from the original on 13 May 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  6. ^ "The Motorway Archive - M56 Dates Page". Iht.org. Archived from the original on 21 August 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2012.[dead link]
  7. ^ "CBRD Motorway Database - M56 Timeline". cbrd.co.uk. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  8. ^ "M56 Lea-by-Backford to Hapsford (J16 to J14)". www.iht.org. The Motorway Archive Trust. Archived from the original on 13 May 2008. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  9. ^ "The Motorway Archive - M56 J16 to J14". Iht.org. Archived from the original on 14 October 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2012.[dead link]
  10. ^ Department of the Official Report (Hansard), House of Commons, Westminster. "House of Commons Hansard Debates for 23 July 1993 - Column 403". Publications.parliament.uk. Retrieved 1 January 2012.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ John Bourn (21 October 1993). "Progress on the Department of Transport's Motorway Widening Programme" (PDF). www.nao.org.uk. National Audit Office. p. 35. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  12. ^ "Wythenshawe Junction". www.sabre-roads.org.uk. The Society for All British and Irish Road Enthusiasts. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  13. ^ "The M56 Motorway (Hapsford to Lea-by-Backford Section) and Connecting Roads Scheme 1976 (Partial Revocation) Scheme 2006". www.legislation.gov.uk. The National Archives. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  14. ^ "Highways Agency - A5117 / A550 Deeside Park Junctions Improvement". Highways.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 5 February 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  15. ^ Driver Location Signs, Highway Agency Area 10 (map) - Highway Authority, 2009
  16. ^ "Bridge repair work on M56 extended to three weekends". BBC News. 18 October 2010. Retrieved 18 October 2010.
  17. ^ "M56 Bowdon View Bridge successfully demolished". Fidgetwith.com. 18 October 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  18. ^ "M56 Junction 7 Bowdon View Bridge Replacement and Junction Improvement". Highways.gov.uk. 4 July 2011. Archived from the original on 27 August 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  19. ^ "M56 bridge repair works continue near Bowdon". BBC News. 23 October 2010.
  20. ^ "Stockport Traffic counts". dft.gov.uk. Department for Transport. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  21. ^ Clay, Oliver (11 August 2015). "Government confirms M56 will be upgraded to smart motorway with extra junction in Runcorn". CheshireLive. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  22. ^ "M56 junction 6 to 8 smart motorway". www.highwaysengland.co.uk. Highways England. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  23. ^ Norbury, David (21 November 2015). "M56 smart motorway won't happen before 2020". Cheshire Live. Reach plc. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  24. ^ http://www.chesterchronicle.co.uk/news/chester-cheshire-news/building-new-m56-junction-cheshire-13579959[bare URL]
  25. ^ "A Highways England road project - M56 new junction 11a". highways.gov.uk. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  26. ^ "M56 corridor dated 2008-09-17". Property Week article. 19 April 2002. Retrieved 1 January 2012.

External links[]

Route map:

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