MOTORISTS are being warned of nightly closures of lanes and carriageways on the M56 as work on a smart motorway nears completion.

The closures start on Wednesday, April 27, and continue for the next three weeks.

National Highways is constructing an all-lane running motorway between junctions six and eight.

The main construction on the westbound carriageway is reaching the final stages.

Resurfacing the hard shoulder has been carried out during the past month and is due to be completed by Wednesday, May 4.

The current contraflow system will be removed and replaced with new traffic management.

A spokesman for National Highways said: “To provide a safe working space in the central reservation, lane three in both the eastbound and westbound carriageways will close.

“Drivers will be able to use the newly converted hard shoulders, keeping three lanes running in each direction with a 50mph speed limit until the project is completed.

“To change the traffic management ahead of the third and final phase of construction work, there will be nightly closures of lanes and or carriageways over the next four weeks, from Wednesday, April 27, to Thursday, May 19.”

Here are details of the proposed closures:

Wednesday, April 27, from 9pm to 6am

Eastbound: Lanes one and two closed and A556 lane one closed.

Westbound: Full carriageway closure between junctions five and seven.

Thursday, April 28, from 12.45am to 6am

Eastbound: Full carriageway closure between junctions nine and five.

Westbound: Full carriageway closure between junctions five and seven.

Friday, April 29, from 9pm to 7am

Eastbound: Junction seven exit slip road closed.

Westbound: Full carriageway closure between junctions five and seven.

Saturday, April 30, from 9pm to 7am

Eastbound: No traffic management planned

Westbound: Full carriageway closure between junctions five and seven.

Sunday, May 1, from 9pm to 6am

Eastbound: No traffic management planned.

Westbound: Full carriageway closure between junctions five and seven.

Monday, May 2, from 9pm to 6am Eastbound: No traffic management planned.

Westbound: No traffic management planned.

Tuesday, May 3, from 6pm to 6am

Eastbound: Lanes one and two closed and A556 lane one closed.

Westbound: Full carriageway closure between junctions five and seven.

Wednesday, May 4, from 9pm to 6am

Eastbound: Lanes one and two closed and A556 lane one closed.

Westbound: Full carriageway closure between junctions five and seven.

Thursday, May 5, from 9pm to 6am

Eastbound: Lanes one and two closed and A556 lane one closed.

Westbound: Lanes one, two and three closed, junction six entry and exit slip roads closed and junction seven exit slip road closed.

Friday, May 6, from 9pm to 7am Eastbound: Lanes one and two closed and A556 lane one closed.

Westbound: Full carriageway closure between junctions five and seven.

Saturday, May 7, from 9pm to 7am

Eastbound: No traffic management planned.

Westbound: Lanes, one, two and three closed, junction six entry and exit slip roads closed and junction seven exit slip road closed.

Sunday, May 8, from 9pm to 6pm

Eastbound: No traffic management planned.

Westbound: Lanes one, two and three closed, junction six entry and exit slip roads closed and junction seven exit slip road closed.

Monday, May 9, from 9pm to 6am

Eastbound: Lanes one and two closed and A556 lane one closed.

Westbound: Full carriageway closure between junctions five and seven.

Tuesday, May 10, from 9pm to 6am Eastbound: Lanes one and two closed and A556 lane one closed.

Westbound: Full carriageway closure between junctions five and seven.

Wednesday, May 11, from 9pm to 6am

Eastbound: Lanes one and two closed and A556 lane one closed.

Westbound: Full carriageway closure between junctions five and seven.

Thursday, May 12, from 9pm to 6am

Eastbound: Lanes one and two closed and A556 lane one closed.

Westbound: Full carriageway closure between junctions five and seven.

Friday, May 13, from 9pm to 7am Eastbound: Lanes two and three closed.

Westbound: Lanes two, three and four closed.

Saturday, May 14, from 9pm to 7am

Eastbound: No traffic management planned.

Westbound: Full carriageway closures between junctions five and seven.

Sunday, May 15, from 9pm to 6am

Eastbound: No traffic management planned.

Westbound: Lanes two, three and four closed.

Monday, May 16, from 9pm to 6am

Eastbound: Lanes one and two closed and A556 lane one closed.

Westbound: Full carriageway closure between junctions five and seven.

Tuesday, May 17, from 9pm to 6am

Eastbound: Lanes one and two closed and A556 lane one closed.

Westbound: Full carriageway closure between junctions five and seven.

Wednesday, May 18, from 9pm to 6am

Eastbound: Lanes one and two closed and A556 lane one closed.

Westbound: Full carriageway closure between junctions five and seven.

Thursday, May 19, from 9pm to 6am

Eastbound: Lanes one and two closed and A556 lane one closed.

Westbound: Full carriageway closure between junctions five and seven.

The dates and times of closures may change due to unforeseen circumstances like bad weather.