Highways Agency

The Project

This was a scheme to keep traffic moving by constructing a special free flow filter lane on the M56 junction 7 slip road which started on 28 August 2007.

The £1.5m project upgraded the existing entry point to the eastbound M56 to two lanes instead of the existing one - the intention being to reduce queuing on the slip road, reduce congestion on the motorway and improve safety.

The entry slip road which joins the M56 from the Bowdon roundabout started out as two lanes but merged into one lane just before the motorway. The new system keeps two lanes all the way onto the M56 with staggered entry points for traffic in each of the two lanes.

The scheme will improve safety and help reduce congestion on what can be a very busy entry point onto the motorway. We modified the slip road to provide two lane entry using a free flow to join the M56. We also resurfaced and installed new road markings and signs in advance of the junction and along the slip road to inform drivers of the change.

As part of the scheme, the main M56 carriageway was reduced to two lanes at junction 7 to accomodate the new filter lane and returns to three lanes after this point.

The new layout became operational on 24 September 2007.

You can find out information about the 'M56 Junction 7 - Review of New Junction Layout' scheme by visiting the Project Homepage.