A heavily congested stretch of the M53 through Ellesmere Port is to be upgraded as part of a £1.5bn investment plan for the region’s roads.

Motorists can expect long delays when work begins on the six-mile stretch between junction 5 at Eastham and junction 11 at the M56 Stoak interchange to create a smart motorway.

This will see the two-lane stretch of motorway increased to three lanes in each direction by opening up the hard shoulder.

The work will also involve the installation of overhead gantry signs to display the variable speed limit.

Highways England, the government-owned company which took over responsibility for England’s motorways and major A roads earlier this year, says work is unlikely to start before 2018 and will take about two years to complete.

Lane closures and speed limits will be in place while it is carried out.

'Long-term benefits'

Highways England’s major projects director for the north, Jeremy Bloom, said: “These schemes will bring significant long-term benefits to drivers on motorways and major A roads in the north west, as well as to the economy as a whole.

“The construction work will, of course, bring some disruption in the short term but we will ensure that we keep this to a minimum to keep traffic flowing.

“When the schemes are completed, road users will experience less congested journeys.”

The scheme was previously announced by Chancellor George Osborne in his Autumn Statement last year.

Then Tory parliamentary candidate for Ellesmere Port and Neston Katherine Fletcher welcomed the investment in that and other projects in Cheshire.

She believed commuters would benefit and said: “This is the biggest, boldest investment in our roads for decades and it will bring a direct benefit for families in Ellesmere Port and Neston.

“Many local people use the M53 every day. By making it a smart motorway, we can ease congestion and boost transport in our area.

“And for local residents who commute to Manchester, investment in the M56 will dramatically improve their commute.”

The M56 itself is being widened to create a smart four-lane motorway from the A556 to the M60 near Manchester Airport with an improved junction 19 linking it to the M6.