A556
Knutsford to Bowdon
improvement scheme
Welcome
A556
Knutsford to Bowdon improvement scheme
What we’re doing
Bowdon
A56
We’re bypassing Tabley, Mere and
Bucklow Hill by building nearly 5 miles
of new dual carriageway from the M6 at
junction 19, near Knutsford, to the M56
at junction 7 near Bowdon.
A56
Junction 8
M56
Booth
Bank
M56
Cherry Tree Lane
Millington Lane
Junction 7
Rostherne
Mere
Line of the bypass
Millington Hall Lane
Rostherne Lane
Chapel Lane
Rostherne
Artist’s impression of the Bowdon roundabout on completion.
Bucklow Hill
Cicely Mill Lane
Bucklow Hill Lane
A50
Hoo
Green
Line of route to be de-trunked
Tatton
Dale
Mere
Hall
View south over the earthworks at Bowdon roundabout.
Mere
The Mere
A5034
A50
Bentleyhurst Lane
Tatton Park
Moss Lane
View north over M6 junction 19 towards Mere.
Over
Tabley
A50
Junction 19
A556
M6
Knutsford
A5033
Knutsford Services
View west of the site of the new junction with the A50.
© Crown copyright and database rights 2014 Ordnance Survey 100030649
Diagrammatic
Highways England – Creative N150443
A556
Knutsford to Bowdon improvement scheme
How you’ll benefit
Safer roads
We’re improving road safety by building a bypass
for Tabley, Mere and Bucklow Hill to remove long
distance traffic from those villages. Once the
bypass is complete, the old A556 will be reduced
to one lane in each direction. We will use the other
lanes to create a new cycle, horse and pedestrian
route.
We’re also improving the layout of M56 junction 7
at Bowdon and the way the junctions operate at
Bucklow Hill and Mere.
Improved links to Manchester airport
Helping the environment
The new dual carriageway between junction 19 of
the M6 and junction 7 of the M56 will make
travelling between the M6, south Manchester and
Manchester Airport quicker and more predictable.
We build and maintain all of our roads with the
environment in mind. We do our best to minimise
the impact of our roads on native species and the
natural environment, to reduce noise, to protect
watercourses from pollutant spillage and to keep
our roads clean and tidy. The de-trunked road will
have lit junctions using environmentally friendly
lighting and it will include our first ‘green bridge’ to
provide a safe crossing point for wildlife.
More information, less congestion
The scheme will bring significant benefits to
strategic traffic between the M6, south Manchester
and Manchester Airport by reducing journey times
and improving journey time reliability.
Computer generated impression of Highways England’s first ‘green bridge’.
Highways England – Creative N150443
A556
Knutsford to Bowdon improvement scheme
What’s next?
2014
Autumn
Winter
2015
Spring
Summer
2016
Autumn
Winter
Spring
Summer
Autumn
2017
Winter
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter
Mobilisation
Enabling works and environmental mitigation
E
Structures
Utilities diversions
Earthworks season 1
Completed
Side road realignments
Earthworks season 2
Roadworks and pavements
Finishing works
Detrunking works
New A556 open to traffic
We don’t do so much digging and landscaping
over winter, so changes won’t be so obvious but
we’ll be busy working on structures and utility
diversions.
In Summer 2016 we will complete:
 Bowdon link bridge
 Millington Lane bridge
 Tabley link / Old Hall Lane
Narrow lanes will remain between Cherry Tree Lane
and Bowdon roundabout while we upgrade the
road to modern standards.
In Autumn 2016 we will complete:
 A50 bridge
 Bentleyhurst Lane bridge
 Chapel Lane bridge
Sign up to the A556 Knutsford to Bowdon web page* for
regular scheme updates: http://goo.gl/KLy3J2
*Full URL - http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/road-projects/a556-knutsford-to-bowdon-improvement
You can scan this QR code with your
smartphone to go to the web page
or
tap your NFC enabled smartphone
here to go to the web page.
Don’t forget to bookmark
the page to keep up-to-date.
Highways England – Creative N150443
A556
Knutsford to Bowdon improvement scheme
What have we done so far?
View north over M6 junction 19 towards Mere.
Work to construct the new A556 Knutsford to
Bowdon dual carriageway started in November
2014.
We’ve also carried out extensive work to reduce the
impact of our work on the environment.
This includes:
To date we have:
 established the main site office in Little
Bollington and the satellite compound on the
A50.
 started constructing five of the eight structures
 completed the underpass on Old Hall Lane
 completed 70% of the utility diversions and
protection works
 excluding great crested newts from the working
area
 creating 21 ponds for newts
 two-for-one replacement of any bat roosts
 donating barn owl boxes to a local barn owl
group
 constructing a new badger sett
 removing and destroying all invasive plant
species
 working more efficiently at our compound to
reduce the amount of lorries on local roads
Highways England – Creative N150443
A556
Knutsford to Bowdon improvement scheme
Some facts and figures
View south over the earthworks at Bowdon roundabout.
 We’ve installed 14.5 miles of fencing
across the project. That’s enough to
stretch from Mere all the way into the
centre of Manchester.
 We’ve moved over 700,000 cubic
metres of earth. That’s enough to fill
more than 10,000 shipping
containers... about three container
ships-worth!
 We’ve installed over 5 miles
of drainage so far. That’s the same
length as this whole scheme.
Great crested newt exclusion fencing.
 There are around 300 people
working on the project 6 of whom are
apprentices.
Old Hall Lane underpass and construction team
Highways England – Creative N150443
A556
Knutsford to Bowdon improvement scheme
Working in the community
The A556 Scheme is proud to support local
communities and inspire young people to take up
careers in engineering.
Our team is dedicated to protecting and enhancing
the environment and leaving a positive lasting
legacy.
Engaging with local schools
Our community team has built links with local
schools to encourage learning about the
environment. They also promote the engineering
industry and showcase the range of jobs available.
Balsam Bash
In July we got together with the Friends of the
Bowdon Bollin to help to clear an area of Himalayan
Balsam that had invaded the riverbank.
Local primary school environmental assembly.
Developing skilled workers for the future
The project runs an
apprenticeship programme
and we have 6 apprentices
(3 of whom are pictured)
currently working on site in
a variety of roles. There
have also been 3 work
experience placements so far.
Working with the local councils
Staff volunteers removing Himalayan Balsam.
We work hard to keep local communities and parish
councils well informed and our team works closely
with the local councils to plan traffic diversions to
minimise disruption to both commuters and the
communities affected.
Highways England – Creative N150443
A556
Knutsford to Bowdon improvement scheme
De-trunking
The de-trunking will mean that the existing A556
will be re-classified, renumbered and redesigned
to discourage use by non-local traffic. The
de-trunked Chester Road will be reduced to a
single carriageway after the opening of the new
route.
Footway/cycleway/bridleway
The existing southbound carriageway will have one
lane in each direction. The existing northbound
Bund
Single carriageway road
carriageway will be a dedicated track for
pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians only.
Changing junctions on the existing A556
Bucklow Hill junction will be modified to
accommodate the new flow of traffic using the left
turn at Bucklow Hill onto Mereside Road (A5034).
We’re going to make changes to the two traffic light
junctions on the section of Chester Road we’re
improving. Mere Crossroads will be reconfigured
and the A50 will become the main through route.
Mere crossroads – before and after
TER RO
AD
CHES
© Crown copyright and database rights 2015 Ordnance Survey 100030649
CHESTE
A556
Pond
After
Major traffic routes
Local traffic routes
0
0
Golf Course
A5
A5
© Crown copyright and database rights 2015 Ordnance Survey 100030649
R ROAD
Before
Major traffic routes
Golf Course
Pond
Mere
Mere
AR
W
War
Meml
AR
W
War
Meml
Mere Farm
Mere Farm
R
R
IN
IN
CHESTER ROAD
R
R
AD
O
AD
O
0
N
N
A556
TO
G
TO
G
A5
A5
Bowling
Green
0
Bowling
Green
Bucklow Hill junction – before and after
Before
After
Swan Hotel
Bucklow Hill
AP
EL
LA
R ROAD
Local traffic routes
CH
NE
CHESTE
NE
Major traffic routes
© Crown copyright and database rights 2015 Ordnance Survey 100030649
LA
CHESTE
Swan Hotel
Bucklow Hill
MIL
A
LL
NE
34
34
MIL
A
LL
NE
RE
RE
D
OA
ER
D
OA
ER
Mere Hall Farm
R ROAD
SID
SID
R ROAD
ELY
ME
ME
Mere Hall Farm
CIC
50
50
LY
A
A
E
CIC
CHESTE
AP
EL
R ROAD
Local traffic routes
CH
CHESTE
© Crown copyright and database rights 2015 Ordnance Survey 100030649
Major traffic routes
Highways England – Creative N150443