THE opening of the new £192 million A556 Knutsford to Bowdon dual carriageway is just around the corner – but full weekend closures are also in sight.

Highways England, which is building the new link road between junction 19 of the M6 at Knutsford and junction 7 of the M56 at Bowdon, this week detailed the final phase of road works for the project - paving the way for the new road to open in March.

Full weekend closures - of the existing A556, junction 19 of the M6 and junctions 7 and 8 of the M56 – are scheduled for mid-February. The closures will allow the old road to be sealed off from through traffic and the motorway junctions to be tied into the new dual carriageway.

Highways England project manager Paul Hampson said: “We are on course to open the new dual carriageway by the end of March, if not sooner. As well as starting work next month to connect the new dual carriageway to the M6 and M56 link roads, we’ll be using the weekend closures to do some preparation along the existing A556 which will become a B road with much-improved facilities for pedestrians and cyclists.

“We’re working hard with partners and stakeholders like the emergency services and Manchester Airport to plan for these weekend closures and to make sure they’ll be well-publicised once the full details are confirmed.”

The schedule currently involves closure of the existing A556 and associated M6 and M56 junctions between 9pm on Friday February 17 and 5am on Monday February 20; and 9pm on Friday March 3 to 5am on Monday March 6.

A final full weekend closure of the old A556 and new A556 will also be in place from 9pm on Friday 10 March and 5am on Monday March 13 to finalise work to seal off the old road.

Highways England is working with Manchester Airport, major football clubs and the police to plan for and publicise the road works so drivers can plan journeys affected by the weekend closures. More information and advice will be released nearer the time of the closures.