DRIVERS using the M6 in Cheshire will see big changes in the new year when a new bridge across the motorway begins to take shape.
The motorway will close at Knutsford for up to two weekends in January as part of the £43 million junction 19 upgrade.
Highways England is constructing a bridge over the M6 through the existing junction roundabout to improve traffic flow between the motorway and the A556 and reduce congestion around the roundabout.
The bridge beams have already started arriving on site ahead of next month's operation
The two Friday night to Monday morning weekend closures, beginning on Friday, January 15 and on Friday, January 22, will see 36 90-tonne bridge beams craned into place over the northbound and southbound carriageways.
Highways England project manager Jamie Carruthers said: “The work over these two weekends will mark a milestone for a project which will transform journeys around this important junction.
“After months of working in the area to construct the bridge supports in the motorway verges and central reservation, we’ll be craning the concrete beams in place ready for constructing the bridge decks later in the year.
“We’ve been planning this phase of the work for many months, and are doing all we can to minimise inconvenience to motorway and local road users.
“We’ve chosen these two particular weekends to do the work after consulting residents, businesses, parish councils, hauliers and emergency services.”
The level of work under way along the motorway. Credit: 360photosurvey.com
The two weekend closures will start at 9pm each Friday night, with the motorway re-opening by 6am the following Monday.
Longer distance motorway users will be encouraged to use alternative routes well away from the M6.
Over the weekends the motorways will be closed at two locations, depending on the work being carried out.
On each Friday night until 6am the following Saturday morning and again from 9pm each Sunday night until the following Monday morning, the motorway will be closed in both directions between junction 18 at Holmes Chapel and junction 20 at Lymm interchange with the M56.
The level of work under way along the motorway Credit: 360photosurvey.com
A diversion will operate between junction 10 of the M56 at Stretton and junction 18 of the M6 using the A49 and A54 through Winsford and Middlewich.
At all other times during the two weekends the motorway will be closed at junction 19 with a simple ‘up and over’ diversion in place, allowing drivers on the southbound and northbound M6 arriving at junction 19 to leave and immediately rejoin the motorway using the exit and entry slip roads.
Progress in construction of the bridge support columns in the central reservation and verges off the hard shoulders
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.
The new bridge is set to open next summer. For more information on the project visit highwaysengland.co.uk/our-work/north-west/m6-junction-19/
Progress in construction of the bridge support columns in the central reservation and verges off the hard shoulders
All pictures by 360photosurvey.com
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