Work is continuing on a new £192 million link road project in Cheshire.

Highways England will host a final consultation event on the new A556 route between the M6 and M56 on Sunday, 20 November.

The scheme is part of a £15 billion government investment in motorways and major A roads by 2021.

Progress has been made on the new route over the last few weeks, including:

• Earthworks completed, drainage installed and carriageway foundations finished along 90% of the route.

• 1.5 miles of concrete central reservation barrier installed.

• Partial opening of the new link road arrangements around junction 7 of the M56 and 2 Bowdon roundabouts.


• Progress on a number of environmental measures including landscaping, planting in ponds and extensive tree planting to begin this month.

• Completion of six out of seven bridge structures, including the underpass. Work on the Green Bridge near Mere is well underway and the realigned A50, Bentleyhurst Lane and Millington Lane roads are already running over new bridges.

The consultation is being held at the construction site office between 10am – 2pm off the A56 Lymm Road near Bowdon roundabout. Drivers and local residents will be provided with an update of the scheme and details regarding the opening of the dual carriageway at the end of March

Highways England project manager Paul Hampson said: "Over the summer we've made significant progress so there's a lot for us to talk about - including plans for opening the new road in March and the new link road arrangements with the M56 which will be up and running even sooner – certainly by the end of the year."

Image: The new roundabout arrangements and M56 link roads at Bowdon

(LM/MH)