Diversions in force for M6 Junctions 16, 17 and 18 this weekend.

Junction 17 of the M6, between Congleton and Sandbach  will be closed to traffic for the whole of next weekend.

Most of the work already completed has involved overnight closures of the slip roads but closures will be in force for the whole weekend of Friday, January 23rd, from 8 pm until 6am on Monday, January 26th.

The main carriageway of the M6 will be unaffected but bridge repairs will mean overnight closure of the main carriageways between junction 18 at Holmes Chapel and junction 16 for Barthomley.

During this period drivers will have to use either junction 16 or junction 18 to join or leave the motorway.

No further weekend closures are anticipated.

Councillor David Topping, Cheshire East Council Cabinet member in charge of service commissioning, said: “This is important work that requires a temporary disruption during daylight hours.

“We will be working with the Highways Agency’s service providers Balfour Beatty Mott Macdonald to ensure any disruption is kept to a bare minimum – and we thank road users in advance for their patience and understanding at this time.

“Work on this pinch-point scheme to improve J17 at Sandbach is just the latest phase in our long-term commitment to investing in and improving our road network for the benefit of local people, businesses and visitors.

“This Council understands that Cheshire East’s highway network is vital to the functioning and economic wellbeing of the Borough and that is why it is investing £25m in roads across the Borough, targeting those areas with the greatest need and greatest long-term benefit for local people and visitors alike.”

Highways Agency project manager Jakub Malaj said: “We would like to thank drivers and other local people for their patience so far, as work progresses. This weekend closure was anticipated in planning the programme of work and we will be doing all we can to complete as much as we can during the full closure to minimise any future inconvenience to drivers.

“Clearly-signed diversions will be in place for anyone normally joining or leaving the motorway at J17 or travelling between Holmes Chapel and Congleton and drivers should leave a little bit of extra time to complete journeys.”

The junction improvement project is part of the Government’s £317m ‘pinch-point’ initiative – a two year programme designed to help stimulate new development and local economic growth by improving road safety and tackling congestion bottlenecks.

The improvements at J17 include: constructing a new roundabout at the top of the northbound off slip road; providing a free-flow link from the A534 to the M6 northbound; installing new traffic signals on the southbound off slip road; providing a designated left turn onto the M6 southbound slip road; and installing new lighting and improving drainage, surfacing, road markings and signing.