M56 Traffic News | Live Updates and Travel Information

The M56 motorway is crucial for North West England commuters, travellers and businesses. It connects North Wales and Chester with Manchester and other towns. It also forms part of the North West Motorway Link, which aims to improve the road network in the region.

Latest M56 Motorway Congestion Reports

If you plan to use the M56 for your journey, you should know how to avoid congestion and stay safe on the road. In this article, we will provide you with the latest M56 traffic news and updates, as well as some tips and advice on how to deal with common problems and hotspots on the motorway. Whether heading to Manchester Airport, Chester Zoo or anywhere else along the M56 corridor, this article will help you plan your route better and enjoy a smoother and safer journey.

Live M56 Accident Updates

However, the M56 can also be a source of stress and frustration for drivers, mainly when traffic delays occur due to accidents, roadworks or peak times.

Eastbound M56 Roadworks and Delays

Traffic delays for the M56 motorway in North West England. Latest travel news from official UK Traffic Delays open data sources.

Westbound M56 Roadworks and Delays

M56 Traffic: What You Need to Know

The M56 motorway links North Wales and Manchester, connecting Chester, Ellesmere Port, Warrington and other towns. It is also part of the North West Motorway Link, which aims to improve the road network in the region. However, the M56 can also be a source of frustration for drivers, especially during peak times and when accidents or roadworks occur. Here are some facts and tips about the M56 traffic that you may find helpful.

M56 Motorway Map

Live traffic flow information. Avoid travel congestion and plan a smarter route.

Traffic Volumes and Busiest Sections

The M56 is a busy motorway that carries thousands of vehicles every day. According to the Department for Transport, the average daily traffic flow on the M56 in 2019 was 86,000 vehicles, with 15% being heavy goods vehicles. The traffic volume varies depending on the section and direction of the motorway. Still, generally, it is higher on the eastern end near Manchester and lower on the western end near Chester.

The busiest sections of the M56 are:

• Junction 1 to Junction 4: This is where the M56 meets the M60, Manchester’s Outer Ring Road. This area gets particularly congested due to the heavy traffic on and off both motorways. The average daily traffic flow here was 120,000 vehicles in 2019.
• Junction 7 to Junction 9: This is where the M56 crosses the M6, one of the main north-south routes in the UK. This area also has a complex road layout, with some restricted turns and asymmetric junctions. The average daily traffic flow here was 97,000 vehicles in 2019.
• Junction 14 to Junction 15: This is where the M56 meets the A5117 and the M53, which provide access to Chester, Ellesmere Port and North Wales. This area can also get busy due to the traffic from these destinations. The average daily traffic flow here was 76,000 vehicles in 2019.

The M56 motorway: A brief history

The M56 motorway is crucial for North West England commuters, travellers and businesses. It connects North Wales and the Wirral peninsula with much of North West England, serves business and commuter traffic heading towards Manchester, particularly that from the wider Cheshire area, and provides the primary road access to Manchester Airport from the national motorway network.

The M56 was developed and opened in stages between 1971 and 1981 as part of the North West Motorway Link (NWML), which aimed to improve the road network in the region. The opening section was between junctions 11 and 14, near Runcorn and Helsby, in September 1971. This was followed by the eastern section between junctions 1 and 7, near Wythenshawe and Bowdon, in January 1972. The central area between junctions 7 and 9, near Lymm and Warrington, was completed in December 1974. The final section between junctions 9 and 11, near Lymm and Preston Brook, was opened in July 1975.

The western end of the M56 was initially planned to terminate at junction 14, near Hapsford, where it would meet the A5117 road. However, due to traffic congestion on the A5117, especially at its junction with the A550 road near Dunkirk, it was decided to extend the M56 further west to meet the M53 motorway at junction 15, near Stoak. This section opened in March 1981, along with a short spur of the M531 motorway (later renumbered as part of the M53) that connected the M56 with the A5117 south of Stoak.

The features and characteristics of the M56 motorway

The western extension of the M56 still needed to be completed, however. In 1986, a further extension was opened between junctions 15 and 16, near Dunkirk and Mollington, where it would rejoin the A5117 road. This section also included a new bridge over the River Dee and a new junction with the A540 road near Two Mills.  Finally, in 2006, a short dual-carriageway link was opened between junction 16 and a new roundabout on the A5117 road near Blacon. This removed the need for traffic to use the old terminal roundabout at junction 16 and improved access to North Wales via the A494 road.

The M56 has some notable features along its route. It forms part of the unsigned European route E22 on its course in the UK between Holyhead in Anglesey and Immingham in Lincolnshire. It has no junction 13, which may have been reserved for future expansion of nearby industrial complexes or a possible southward extension of the M57 motorway across the Mersey estuary.

It has a complex interchange with the M6 motorway at junction 9, where traffic for the southbound M6 has to leave at junction eight and use the A556 road instead.  It also has a spur at its eastern end that connects it with the M60 motorway at junction 4, where it appears to end on the A5103 Princess Parkway. This spur has two intermediate junctions numbered 1 and 2, which makes it unclear whether it is part of the mainline of the M56 or not.

The M56 is one of the busiest motorways in North West England, carrying an average of over 100,000 vehicles per day on some sections.

It is also part of the Northern Powerhouse strategy to upgrade roads to smart motorways in order to increase capacity and reduce congestion. It has been subject to several improvement schemes over the years, such as widening, resurfacing and installing variable speed limits and CCTV cameras.

The M56 motorway is a vital link for North West England, evolving to meet changing demands and needs. It has a rich history reflects the development of transport infrastructure in the region.

Stay informed of the latest M56 traffic news and updates. View roadworks and incidents. Avoid delays and travel safely. Traffic delay information supplied by National Highways. The latest traffic reports, roadworks and travel news for the M56 motorway in North West England. It is updated every 5 minutes, 24 hours a day.

Our M56 motorway travel news is as current as possible, but please always check with local radio news sources and allow plenty of time for your journey.

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