Highways England’s £192M project to upgrade the A556 in Cheshire is set to reach an important milestone next week with the opening of its first bridge.

 

The new bridge will carry the A50 over the ongoing A556 scheme, which involves construction of a dual carriageway link between junction 19 of the M6 at Knutsford and junction 7 of the M56 at Bowdon.

 

This marks the start of efforts to connect the route of the new A556 from end to end. Previously this was not possible due to the need to keep open existing roads that cross the construction site, including the A50, Chapel Lane and Millington Lane.

 

Each of these will be realigned and moved onto newly built bridges over the dual carriageway, with the A50 bridge due to open by Tuesday.

 

“This weekend’s work is an important milestone ensuring we can now start to connect the different sections of the new A556 and realign the A50 over the new bridge with the minimum of fuss,” said Highways England project manager Paul Hampson.

 

Once traffic is moved onto the A50 bridge, temporary traffic lights and a section of single lane running will remain in place, with further overnight closures needed to complete works. This will include delivery of a new roundabout next to the bridge, providing a link with the upgraded A556.

 

Work to run traffic over the new bridges at Chapel Lane and Millington Lane – as well as a new bridge providing farm access at Bentleyhurst Lane – will be carried out over the next few months.

 

Meanwhile construction of new link roads from the M56 onto the A556, including new arrangements at Bowdon roundabout, is also currently under way. Construction of the new A556 started in November 2014 and is due for completion in spring next year.

 

(Photo: Highways England)