Highways Agency - Safe roads, Reliable journeys, Informed travellers

The Project

The A556 is a major trunk road between North Cheshire and South Manchester. This scheme would improve the section of the A556 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.

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 signal-controlled and have restricted turning movements.

The A556 currently carries approximately 50,000 vehicles per day, with HGVs contributing approximately 18% of this figure. There were 200 accidents in the period 1998 to 2005, including 5 fatalities and 39 serious injuries. At present the road is heavily congested for long periods of the day.

Decision of the Secretary of State for Transport - December 2008

Having considered the views expressed by the public at a consultation undertaken in March 2007, the Secretary of State for Transport announced a preferred route for the scheme on the 16th December 2008. A leaflet showing this route can be found on the Publications page.

Supplementary Public Consultation - September 2009

After the Secretary of State's announcement, it became necessary to consider changes to the southern end of the scheme. This was necessary as the scope of the scheme had increased to include the section of the A556 between Over Tabley and the M6 Junction 19.

Leaflets setting out details of the 3 options for the southern end of the scheme were distributed to homes and business in the area on the 28th September 2009.  A copy of this leaflet can be found on the Publications page. Local residents, road users and businesses were invited to give their views on the options using a questionnaire which was attached to the consultation leaflet.  A version of this was also available online from 28th September to be completed by the closing date of 18th December 2009.

Amended Preferred Route Announcement - March 2010

Following careful consideration of all the responses and comments received, along with detailed analysis of the cost and non-financial impacts of each of the 3 options, the Minister confirmed the amended preferred route for the scheme on the 19th March 2010.

The Amended Preferred Route Announcement leaflet can be found on the Publications page. This explains the responses to public consultation, the amended proposals, and also the way forward.

Latest News

The scheme is currently progressing through the preliminary design stage as planned, with ongoing work including site surveys, detailed design development and the preparation of the Environmental Statement. We are also preparing for the statutory processes needed to advance the scheme. The publication of environmental information and the detailed design proposals for the route will provide further opportunities for consultation with local communities, local authorities and other stakeholders. The opening of the completed road is planned for 2015.