Costain to upgrade key M6-M56 motorway link

Costain has won a contract with the Highways Agency to widen the A556 between Knutsford and Bowdon in Cheshire.

The scheme will see the A556 between Knutsford and Bowdon in Cheshire, which is used by 51,000 vehicles a day, upgraded to dual carriageway standard. A bypass will take traffic away from the communities of Bucklow Hill, Mere and Over Tabley and Junction 7 of the M56 will be upgraded.

Mike Penning, roads minister, said: "Working with the contractor from an early stage will mean that the Highways Agency fully benefits from the contractor's expertise in design and development. This will help the agency deliver efficiency savings and meet the commitment to start construction on the scheme by 2015, subject to statutory processes.

"This vital scheme will relieve congestion and improve safety on a very busy road linking North Cheshire and South Manchester with the West Midlands and the South. It will also benefit people living in Mere, Bucklow Hill and Over Tabley by taking traffic away from their communities."

The timetable for the works will be announced later this year.