Key phase for £43 million M6 junction 19 improvement

Highways England’s £43 million project to install a new road bridge over the M6 in Cheshire and tackle congestion at one of the busiest motorway roundabouts in the region, enters a key phase later this month with overnight closures of the junction.

The roundabout at junction 19 of the M6 at Knutsford is being transformed in the 18-month project which is expected to be completed next summer. The new bridge through the roundabout will provide direct links between the motorway and A556 and help reduce congestion at other parts of the junction.

Artist's impression of how the new junction arrangements will look once completed next year

As part of the construction work, the junction will be closed between 9pm and 6am every night for up to ten nights from Monday 14 September - with no work at weekends. Drivers used to joining or leaving the M6 at junction 19 will need to use other motorway junctions or diversion routes. Drivers travelling between the M6 and M56 via the new A556 Knutsford to Bowdon bypass will also need to use a diversion route. 

Highways England project manager Jamie Carruthers said:

“We’re making great progress on this major improvement to improve the flow between the motorway and the A556, reduce congestion around the roundabout itself and make the junction safer for everyone to use - including pedestrians and cyclists.

“So far we’ve been working in the motorway verges and the central reservation as we start to construct the bridge but now we’re starting work up on the roundabout itself.

“We’d like to thank everyone in advance for their patience during the overnight junction closures which are essential to protect road users and our workforce.”    

This month’s overnight junction closures will allow roundabout lighting, traffic signals and road signs will be removed as part of preparations to accommodate the new road bridge and other improvements at the junction.

Anyone seeking information about forthcoming traffic management arrangements can sign up for the project’s weekly traffic management bulletin. This is available from the project webpage – https://highwaysengland.co.uk/our-work/north-west/m6-junction-19/ - or by emailing the project team m6junction19improvement@highwaysengland.co.uk

All the work is being done in accordance with the latest government guidelines related to the Covid 19 outbreak. All Highways England sites have strict safeguarding measures to prevent the spread of the virus and no sites are open to the public.

Pictured - Artist's impression of how the new junction arrangements will look once completed next year.