DRIVERS using the M56 through Cheshire are being reminded the motorway will be closed for two weekends.

The section close to Runcorn will be shut as National Highways’ 18-month, £27 million A533 bridge replacement project nears completion.

The M56 will be closed in both directions between junction 11 and junction 12 from 9pm today, Friday, May 12 until 6am on Monday, May 15, as a delicate operation to demolish the old A533 Expressway bridge – right next to the new one - gets underway. 

The removal of the old bridge and associated work along the M56 will be completed the following weekend with the M56 closing again between junction 11 and junction 12 from 9pm on Friday, May 19, to 6am on Monday, May 22.

The old bridge is sandwiched between the new bridge – which opened to traffic for the first time on Monday, April 17 – and the prominent arched railway bridge carrying the London to Liverpool West Coast mainline.

The new bridge will also be closed during the two weekends – from 7pm each Friday until 6am each Monday - for safety reasons as it is only a few yards from the old one.

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Access to and from the A56 local road will also be closed - again for safety reasons – at its junction with the A533 near the new bridge.

Clearly-signed diversions for both the bridge and motorway closures will be in place with full information available on the dedicated project webpage

Drivers are advised to check traffic conditions before setting out on journeys.

Live traffic information is always available at www.trafficengland.com or from National Highways’ 24-7 customer contact centre at 0300 123 5000. Updates will also be posted to @HighwaysNWest – National Highways’ regional Twitter feed.