ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14

National Highways
ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14
THE M56 MOTORWAY (EASTBOUND & WESTBOUND CARRIAGEWAYS & SLIP & LINK ROADS) AND THE A56 & A556 TRUNK ROADS (MANCHESTER SMART MOTORWAY SCHEME) (TEMPORARY RESTRICTION AND PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC) ORDER 2022
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that National Highways Limited (Company No. 09346363) has made an Order on the M56 Motorway, and the A56 and A556 Trunk Roads, in the Boroughs of Cheshire East, Trafford and Warrington, in the Cities of Manchester and Salford, in the Counties of Greater Manchester and Cheshire, to enable works associated with the Manchester Smart Motorway Scheme, to be carried out in safety.
(a) The Order will impose a 40mph, 50 mph or 60mph speed restriction as indicated by speed restriction signs on the following:

i. the M56 eastbound carriageway, from a point 450 metres east of Agden Lane Bridge, to a point 600 metres west of the Airport Link South Bridge, including the M56 M Spur Link Road (A556);

ii. the M56 eastbound exit slip road at Junction 6;

iii. the M56 eastbound entry slip road at Junction 6;

iv. the M56 westbound carriageway, from a point 100 metres west of the Simonsway Bridge, to a point 800 metres west of the Hope Cottage Bridge;

v. the M56 westbound entry slip road at Junction 5 Airport Spur, from a point 50 metres past the point at which the M56 eastbound and westbound split;

vi. the M56 westbound exit slip road at Junction 6;

vii. the M56 westbound entry slip road at Junction 6;

viii. the M56 westbound exit slip road at Junction 7.

(b) The Order will ban all traffic from the following:

i. the M56 eastbound carriageway between Junctions 9 and 5, in sections as indicated by traffic signs, from the last point at which the Junction 9 exit slip road leaves the carriageway, to the first point at which the Junction 5 entry slip road joins the carriageway;

ii. the M56 westbound carriageway, between Junctions 5 and 8, in sections indicated by traffic signs, from the last point where the Junction 5 exit slip road leaves the carriageway, to the first point where the Junction 8 entry slip road joins the carriageway;

iii. the A556 northbound carriageway, from the point at which the A56 diverges towards the Bowden Roundabout, to the M56 eastbound entry slip road;

iv. the M6 Junction 20A eastbound entry link road to the M56 carriageway;

v. the M6 Junction 20 eastbound entry slip road onto the M56 eastbound from the Wither's Lane overbridge;

vi. the A56 Bowden Roundabout entry slip road to the M56 M Spur Link Road toward the eastbound carriageway of the M56;

vii. the M56 Junction 6 eastbound entry slip road;

viii. the M56 Junction 5 westbound entry slip road;

ix. the M56 Junction 6 westbound entry slip road;

x. the A556 southbound exit slip road, from its last point, to the first point where it joins the M56 westbound entry slip road at Junction 8;

xi. the M56 Junction 6 eastbound exit slip road;

xii. the M56 Junction 6 westbound exit slip road;

xiii. the M56 Junction 7 westbound exit slip road;

xiv. the M56 Junction 7 eastbound exit slip road.

(c) The Order will allow the hard shoulder adjacent to the sections of the M56 carriageways described below to be used as running lanes. A 40mph, 50 mph or 60mph speed restriction will be in force on the hardshoulder when used as a running lane as indicated by speed restriction signs.

i. the eastbound carriageway, from a point 1,100 metres east of the Agden Lane Bridge, to a point 800 metres west of the Airport Link South Bridge;

ii. the westbound carriageway, from a point 400 metres east of the Airport Link South Bridge, to a point 500 metres west of Hope Cottage Bridge.

(d) The Order will prohibit all traffic from the following sections of the M56 Motorway:

i. the eastbound carriageway, from a point 1,560 metres east of the Yarwood Heath Bridge, to a point 850 metres west of the Airport Link South Bridge. During the closure of this section of the eastbound carriageway, eastbound traffic will be directed to cross over into the westbound carriageway where a contraflow system will be in place;

ii. the westbound carriageway, from a point 850 metres west of the Airport Link South Bridge, to a point 1,560 metres east of the Yarwood Heath Bridge. During the closure of this section of the westbound carriageway, westbound traffic will be directed to cross over into the eastbound carriageway where a contraflow system will be in place.

(e) The Order will impose a width restriction of 1.95 metres (6 feet 6 inches) in the offside running lane of the following lengths of carriageway when indicated by traffic signs:

i. the eastbound carriageway, from a point 1,100 metres east of Agden Lane Bridge, to a point 800 metres west of the Airport Link South Bridge (as described in c)I above),

ii. the A556 northbound carriageway, from the point at which the A56 diverges towards Bowdon Roundabout, to the M56 eastbound entry slip road;

iii. the M56 Junction 6 eastbound entry slip road;

iv. the westbound carriageway, from a point 400 metres east of the Airport Link South Bridge, to a point 500 metres west of Hope Cottage Bridge (as described in c)ii) above;

v. the M56 Junction 5 westbound entry slip road;

vi. the M56 Junction 6 westbound entry slip road;

Prohibitions (b) are expected to be in place overnight between 21:00 and 06:00 (continuing to 07:00 on Saturday and Sunday mornings) during a period starting on Sunday 13 March 2022 and ending
on Tuesday 12 September 2023.
Restrictions (a), (c), (d) and (e) are expected to be in place during a continuous period starting at 00:01 on Sunday 13 March 2022 and ending at 23:59 hours on Tuesday 12 September 2023. Prohibitions (b) i-iii, v-ix, and xi-xiv are expected to be in place during a continuous period starting at 21:00 hours on Friday 25 March 2022 and ending at 05:30 hours on Monday 28 March 2022; repeating again from 21:00 hours on Friday 8 April and ending at 09:30 hours on Sunday 10 April 2022, (as indicated by traffic signs) However, works may start and finish beyond these dates until completed. Diversion routes via alternative junctions of the M6, M56, M60, M62 Motorways and local roads will be well signed.
The restrictions will not apply to emergency services or special-forces vehicles and the prohibitions will not apply to emergency services, works, winter maintenance, or traffic officer vehicles. The prohibitions and restrictions will only apply during such times and to such extent as will, from time to time, be indicated by traffic signs. The Order comes into force on 12 March 2022 and has a maximum duration of eighteen months. For more information contact the Project Manager Clare Bond, by e-mailing

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Felicity Clayton, SMP Regional Sponsor | North West
National Highways Limited, Bridge House, 1 Walnut Tree Close, Guildford, GU1 4LZ. Registered in England & Wales number 09346363.