Resurfacing for M56 airport route

An overnight project to resurface one of the busiest sections of the M56 - around Manchester Airport - will get underway next month.

National Highways is resurfacing sections of worn carriageway in both the eastbound and westbound carriageways between junction 5 at the airport and junction 6 at Hale Barns in overnight wok starting on Monday 10 June.

Some of the slip roads at junctions 5 and 6, as well as at junction 4 for Wythenshawe, will also be resurfaced. 

All the work - which also includes replacing some bridge joints and traffic detection loops in the road surface - will be done overnight with occasional carriageway or slip road closures. The working hours will be between 9pm and 5am - or 7am on Saturdays – when the motorway is at its quietest.

National Highways project manager Rob Williams said:

“This is important, if routine, wear and tear work. We are aiming to be well out of the way before the start of the school summer holiday period. 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.” 

The resurfacing programme includes a full closure of the eastbound carriageway between junction 7 and junction 5, en-route to the airport, for five nights from the evening of Monday 17 June to the morning of Saturday 22 June. Drivers heading to the airport and beyond will be able to use an alternative motorway route using the northbound M6, eastbound M62, anti-clockwise M60 and westbound M56.

A further full closure of the eastbound carriageway, between junction 6 and junction 4, is scheduled for the nights of Tuesday and Wednesday 11 and 12 June and Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 8, 9 and 10 July.  A diversion will operate from junction 6 via the local road network incorporating Runger Lane/Thorley Lane to the airport and onwards to junction 4 via the A555, Styal Road and Simonsway.

The Runger Lane/Thorley Lane diversion route to the airport will also be in place when the eastbound M56 is closed between junction 6 and junction 5 on Thursday and Friday 13 and 14 June, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 24, 25, and 26 June and Thursday and Friday 4 and 5 July.

Two slip road closures affecting journeys to the airport will also be taking place:

• Eastbound exit slip road at junction 5 on Friday 28 June with drivers on the eastbound M56 needing 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 on Wednesday 17 July with drivers on the westbound M56 needing 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.

Further information on these and other slip road closures, including diversion maps, is available here: 

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Pictured - M56 on the western side of junction 5 at Manchester Airport.