A556 project February 2017 update - Part 2

In part one of the February update I detailed progress from the M6 junction 19 to the new A50 overbridge and roundabout, in part two I will detail progress from the M56 junction 7 heading south to the new Chapel Lane overbridge. 

The new grade separated junction at the M56 junction 7 was one of the largest single elements of the project, requiring the construction of a new overbridge, roundabout, slip roads and refurbishment of the existing bridge over the M56.

The new grade separated junction of the M56/A556 interchange was one of the first beneficial elements of the project to open. Now traffic travelling to and from Manchester can avoid the existing flat roundabout which connected the A556 to the A56 westbound to Warrington and northbound to Altrincham

New A556 alignment carrying traffic to/from the M56 toward Manchester

Looking west towards Manchester from the new bridge over the A556 which connects the existing roundabout for Altrincham to the new roundabout which connects to the A556 southern entry slip, westbound exit slip and westbound entry slip from/to the M56.

Overbridge connecting the existing roundabout for Altrincham to the new roundabout which connects to the A556 southern entry slip and the exit slip from the westbound M56

New A556 alignment carrying traffic to/from the M56

The initial map I produced (shown below) shows the new alignment and should help with the explanation of the new junction 7 arrangement.

click to enlarge

One of the last major tasks to completed before the new road can open is the tying in of the M56 with the new carriageway. This will require a number of overnight and weekend closures. The image below shows the the northern-most section of the new A556 alignment, which like the M6 end has been surfaced to within a few meters of where the new and existing carriageways will tie in.

View from Millington Lane looking north toward Altrincham

The new overbridge at Millington Lane is now open, with some work still being undertaken to provide access for local residents and business. 

View from Millington Lane looking north toward Altrincham

The image below shows that work on the new carriageway is at an advanced stage, the central concrete barrier is now complete and work is now focusing on installing steel barriers, signs and landscaping.

View from Millington Lane looking south toward the M6

Millington Lane overbridge as viewed from Chapel Lane 

Chapel Lane overbridge is also complete and open to traffic, this bridge provides cycle lanes either side of the road.

View from Chapel Lane looking north toward the M56

View from Chapel Lane looking south toward the M6

This will probably be the last blog update on the A556 until the new road opens at the end of March. I hope to be there on the opening day if possible. I'll be sure to provide full details of the new road and later in the year return to see how work is progressing on de-truncking what will become the B5569.

I will leave you with one of the very first images I captured of the project back in March 2015 showing initial ground works at junction 7 of the M56.