'Have your say’ message with launch of M56 and A5036 options consultations
Public are encouraged to take part in consultations for 2 major road improvements.
People across Merseyside and Cheshire are being encouraged by Highways England to take part in consultations for 2 major road improvements delivering better journeys and a multi-million pound boost for the local and regional economy.
The 6 week public consultations over the shortlisted options for a brand new junction 11a along the M56 near Runcorn in Cheshire – serving the new Mersey Gateway bridge - and improvements to the A5036 Port of Liverpool route in Merseyside, will start on Monday 16 January and will be accompanied by a series of public information events.
Proposals for improving the busy A5036 Port of Liverpool link are designed to tackle congestion and make journeys more reliable
Money for each of the improvements is included in the Government’s £15 billion Road Investment Strategy. As well as improving journeys for commuters and commercial road users, the improvements will support future investment in jobs and housing.
Jacqui Allen, Highways England’s Regional Investment Manager for the North, said:
We have done a lot of work on both proposals since public awareness events last year and the consultations over the next few weeks provide an opportunity for people using or living near the A5036 or M56 to help us determine which of the options to take forward to the next stage of design for a start of work before the end of 2020.
While the options for the A5036 link between the motorway network at Switch Island and the Port of Liverpool remain a choice between improving the existing road or building a brand new bypass through Rimrose Valley, some of the ideas have changed. New plans include modifying suggested junction improvements along the existing road to reduce the impact for local people.
Options for the new M56 junction 11a include 2 different ideas for modifying the existing Murdishaw Roundabout with the A553 Southern Expressway. In addition to this new junction there is also a plan to build a small roundabout north of the West Coast main railway line to provide the westbound entry and exit slip roads for the M56. An option for a new junction west of Murdishaw Roundabout has now been discounted.
Aerial view of M56 and existing layout of Murdishaw Roundabout along the local road network
More information, including consultation brochures and electronic versions of the questionnaires, as well as details of the consultation events, will be available online from Monday 16 January on the following websites:
General enquiries
Members of the public should contact the Highways England customer contact centre on 0300 123 5000.
Media enquiries
Journalists should contact the Highways England press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.