Highways Agency - Safe roads, Reliable journeys, Informed travellers

Current Progress

The scheme is currently progressing through the preliminary design stage as planned. You can view progress so far and the forthcoming project schedule at Progress at a Glance.

Consultation
We want to make sure that the local community, the residents, local interest groups, businesses, visitors and road users, have the opportunity to understand the scheme and comment on our proposals. We held a 12 week public consultation from 23rd January 2012 to 16th April 2012. Our consultation information can still be found on our archived Consultation page. All other scheme publications, including the two notices published in January 2012 to advertise this consultation, are available on our Publications page.

We provided consultation information on various issues including:  

• Junction layout and strategy
• Works to the existing road ('de-trunking') and side roads
• Environmental assessments and potential environmental impacts
• Environmental mitigation measures
• Arrangements during construction of the scheme 

Update
We are currently reviewing the considerable amount of feedback we received during the consultation period. This includes analysing suggestions for amending the proposed design to see what changes we can incorporate into it. As well as reviewing suggestions and comments from the local community and road users, we also are taking into account feedback from various other consultees, environmental impacts, technical feasibility and affordability.

We want to give due attention to feedback raised by the public, and also to the design work that this review of feedback will entail. We plan to make an announcement confirming the scheme design once we have progressed this review work and have determined the junction strategy. Further information about the scheme design will be released here when it is available.

In order to get development consent to build the scheme, we also will produce a Consultation Report to summarise the views and comments received and outlining how we have taken them into consideration. This will provide a detailed assessment of consultation feedback, and will form part of our application for this development consent. We hope to make this application towards the end of 2012. 

We will be updating this webpage on our progress during Summer 2012.

The Project

What is happening?
In 2003 the Secretary of State for Transport cancelled plans for a new motorway link, the A556(M), having not been convinced that the A556(M)'s proposal for a new motorway-standard road in open countryside was acceptable. At the same time he also cancelled an alternative proposal to improve the M6 junction 20, bypassing the A556, as studies indicated it would not operate effectively and would not represent good value for money. We were asked to look at alternative proposals, involving local communities in our work.  

When and where is this happening?
The A556 is a major trunk road between north Cheshire and south Manchester. The section of the A556 under consideration is between the M6 junction 19 near Tabley/Knutsford and the M56 junction 7 near Bowdon. To the northern end of the A556 are the communities of Altrincham, Bowdon and Hale.   Rostherne Mere is situated to the east of the route, close to the existing trunk road. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), a National Nature Reserve and a wetland of international importance. At the southern end, close to the town of Knutsford, is Tatton Park (a National Trust property), which hosts many events annually, including the Royal Horticultural Society Flower Show. 

In the October 2010 Spending Review, the Chancellor announced that the A556 Knutsford to Bowdon Environmental Improvement scheme will be prepared for start of construction before 2015, subject to the outcome of statutory processes.

Alongside the Budget announcement on the 21st March 2012, the Government confirmed that this scheme is planned to commence in financial year 2014/15. For more information please visit our Current Delivery Programme page. 

Why is this happening and what will it cost?
The A556 carries approximately 51,500 vehicles daily, with HGVs contributing approximately 11% of this figure. The section of the A556 between the M56 junction 7 and the M6 junction 19 is 6.5km (4 miles) long and is currently mainly single 4-lane carriageway, with sections of dual 2-lane carriageway. Along the A556, numerous properties and field entrances have direct access onto the trunk road. As well as the two motorway junctions, there are also two other major junctions that connect local roads to the A556. These are the Bucklow Hill junction, and Mere junction. Both junctions are controlled by traffic lights and have restricted turning movements.  

As such, the road is currently heavily congested for long periods of the day. There were 118 accidents in the period January 2005 to December 2009, including 1 fatality and 14 serious injuries.
 
The current cost-range estimate for the whole scheme is £137million (minimum) to £212million (maximum) with a central estimate of £174million  

How will the scheme be carried out?
We are currently in the preliminary design stage, and held a consultation to allow local community, businesses and road users to comment on our proposals. Once the design has been finalised we will be able to provide more information about how the scheme will be carried out.  

How will this impact on my journey?
Until we have finalised the design, we are unable to determine the likely impact. Works of this nature inevitably lead to some disruption, but we will do our best to keep this to a minimum and will keep you informed via this website.

What are the benefits?
A new road will address the significant congestion problems and will reduce accident numbers within the area. The air quality within the area will also be improved.

How do I find out more information?
More information will be posted on this project page as it becomes available. You can subscribe to be alerted when updates are made.

If you have any queries about this project you should contact the Highways Agency Information Line by emailing ha_info@highways.gsi.gov.uk or calling 0300 123 5000.

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