Eastbound M56 closed towards Manchester

Drivers in Cheshire and Greater Manchester are being advised the eastbound M56 between junction 7 at Bowdon and junction 6 at Hale Barns is closed this morning following a serious incident.

The incident happened shortly before 7am involving a single vehicle and the eastbound carriageway is likely to remain closed well into the morning while police carry out an incident investigation. 

The closures at junction 7 include the dedicated link road from the northbound A556 Knutsford to Bowdon bypass onto the eastbound M56.   A diversion is in place with drivers being sent onto the northbound A56 from junction 7 of the M56.

Drivers stuck behind the incident have already been freed from the scene. 

Congestion on the diversion route from junction 7 is already heavy so drivers should delay journeys or seek alternative routes.  A good motorway diversion is available from junction 9 of the M56 at Lymm interchange where drivers heading towards Manchester and Manchester Airport can join the northbound M6 and then use the eastbound M62 for city centre routes and anti-clockwise M60 and westbound M56 for the airport.

National Highways traffic officers are at the scene helping to manage traffic. Staff at the North West Regional Operations Centre (NWROC) near Warrington and National Traffic Operations Centre (NTOC) at Birmingham have set electronic signs across the motorway network to warn drivers of the carriageway closure.

Drivers are advised to check traffic conditions before setting out on journeys. Live traffic information is always available at:

www.trafficengland.com 

...or from National Highways’ 24-7 customer contact centre at:

0300 123 5000

Updates will also be posted to:

@HighwaysNWest – National Highways’ regional Twitter feed.