M56 junctions 6 to 8 smart motorway - statutory instrument consultation

Overview

The M56 is a key strategic route carrying high volumes of vehicles between Manchester and Cheshire. The section between junctions 6 and 8 is approximately 4 miles in length, and runs between Manchester Airport and Bowdon.

The M56 junctions 6 to 8 smart motorway scheme runs from the Wilmslow Road underbridge at junction 6 to the Yarwoodheath Lane overbridge at junction 7 including the westbound on-slip and eastbound off-slip at junction 6, and portions of the westbound off-slip and eastbound on-slip at junction 7.

This section of the M56 is a key commuter route into Manchester and provides access to and from the M6 south via the A556 at junction 7. The area the scheme is intended to improve currently suffers from significant congestion. The provision of an additional lane and introduction of variable mandatory speed limits will help to alleviate this congestion.

It's expected that the scheme will:

• increase motorway capacity and reduce congestion
• smooth traffic flows
• provide more reliable journey times
• increase and improve the quality of information for the driver (in relation to the operation of the motorway)

The use of variable mandatory speed limits is essential to achieving the objectives above. Through the introduction of technology, we aim to make best use of the existing road space.

Comments on the introduction of variable mandatory speed limits

We'd like to encourage any organisations, businesses or individuals affected by these proposals to contact us and give us their views. If you're responding on behalf of an organisation, it would be helpful if you could note this in your reply. Please also indicate

• the nature of the organisation
• how many individuals’ views are included in the response
• the ways in which these views were gathered

Sending your consultation response

You can respond to the consultation by completing our online survey below.

Alternatively, you can complete the consultation response form located in Appendix B of the Consultation Document and return it to us by email or by post to the following address. Please include ‘M56 J6-8 smart motorway statutory instrument consultation’ in the title of the email, and mark it for the attention of Clare Bond.

Please ensure that your response reaches us by 30 September 2019.

Email: M56J6-8SmartMotorway@highwaysengland.co.uk

Post:
Clare Bond
Project Manager
Highways England
2 Colmore Square
Birmingham
B4 6BN