Two weekend closures for M6 in Cheshire start on Friday

Drivers in Cheshire are being reminded the M6 motorway is set to be closed at Knutsford over the next two weekends as the £43 million junction 19 upgrade reaches an important milestone.

A decision on whether this weekend’s closure will go ahead will be made on Wednesday evening (20 January) after a check on the weather forecast. 

Highways England is constructing a bridge over the M6 to improve traffic flow between the motorway and the A556 and reduce congestion around the junction roundabout.

A shift-by-shift video has been produced to demonstrate how the work will proceed over the two weekends.

An animation has been provided to show what work will be taking place at different stages of the two weekends

The two Friday night to Monday morning weekend closures – beginning on Friday (22 January) and again on Friday week (29 January) – will see 36 huge, 90 tonne bridge beams craned into place over the northbound and southbound carriageways.

Closure details for the two weekend closures are as follows:

• Friday 22 January (9pm) to Saturday 23 January (6am): M6 closed in both directions between junction 18 at Holmes Chapel and junction 20 with the M56 at Lymm Interchange;
• Saturday 23 January (6am) to Sunday 24 January (9pm): M6 closed in both directions at junction 19 only
• Sunday 24 January (9pm) to Monday 25 January (6am): M6 closed in both directions between junction 18 at Holmes Chapel and junction 20 with the M56 at Lymm Interchange.

The second weekend closure between 9pm on Friday 29 January and 6am on Monday 1 February will follow the same timings and pattern.  

Diversions will be in operation across both weekends.  When the motorway is closed between junction 18 and junction 20 the diversion will run from junction 18 of the M6 at Holmes Chapel via the A54 through Middlewich and Winsford and then the A49 up to junction 10 of the M56 at Stretton.

When the motorway is closed at junction 19 only a simple ‘up and over’ diversion in place allowing drivers on both the southbound and northbound M6 arriving at junction 19 to leave and immediately rejoin the motorway using the exit and entry slip roads.  To allow the diversion to operate smoothly there will no access at the junction to or from the A556 Chester Road or A556 Knutsford to Bowdon bypass.

Highways England is advising drivers making essential journeys during the lockdown to plan journeys carefully and allow extra time if they need to use the M6 route. The latest Government travel advice can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home#travel

Longer-distance drivers heading beyond Cheshire are being urged to choose alternative motorway routes away from this part of the M6.

All drivers are advised to check traffic conditions before setting out on journeys. Live traffic information is always available at www.trafficengland.com or from Highways England’s 24-7 customer contact centre at 0300 123 5000.   Updates will also be posted to @HighwaysNWest - Highways England’s regional Twitter feed.

The new bridge is set to open in the summer. More information on the project is available at https://highwaysengland.co.uk/our-work/north-west/m6-junction-19/