M56 slip road closure for new Mersey bridge
Drivers using the M56 through Cheshire are being reminded the eastbound exit slip road at junction 12 for Runcorn and Widnes will be closed around the clock for up to 5 weeks from Monday (12 October) as the Mersey Gateway bridge project enters an important new phase.
The slip road is being closed in the early hours of Monday morning and will not re-open again until mid-November. The closure is taking place to allow work on the local road network linked to the construction of the new Mersey Gateway bridge which is being delivered by Halton Borough Council and the Merseylink consortium.
Drivers wishing to leave the motorway from the eastbound M56 at junction 12 will instead need to travel onto junction 11 at Daresbury and use the junction roundabout there to join the westbound M56 and come off at the westbound exit slip road at junction 12 which will remain open at all times. Local diversions will also be in place.
Highways England project manager Dave Dickinson said:
Although Mersey Gateway is on the local road network, its role in connecting the M62 and M56 is important and we’re keen to help ensure the new bridge is delivered as smoothly as possible.
We appreciate people used to leaving at junction 12 will be inconvenienced for over a month but we will continue to work with the bridge project team to ensure any disruption to our customers is kept to a minimum. We don’t anticipate any further junction closures associated with the project.
Highways England will be monitoring the motorway closely – particularly on the approaches to both the eastbound exit slip road at junction 11 and westbound exit slip road at junction 12 – and will use electronic message signs to warn drivers of congestion.
Drivers are being urged to allow extra time to complete journeys and to check travel conditions before setting off. Highways England provides live traffic information via its website www.trafficengland.com, local and national radio travel bulletins and electronic road signs. Information is also available from Twitter via @highwaysNWEST
More details on the Mersey Gateway project are available at www.merseygateway.co.uk
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.