Parts of the M6 around Knutsford in Cheshire will be closed overnight this week as work to deliver a major £14.5 million repairs and improvement programme between junction 19 at Knutsford and junction 20 at Lymm continues.

The Highways England scheme - a combination of bridge repairs and support strengthening, a new concrete central reservation barrier, new steel verge barriers, drainage improvements and resurfacing – started in December.

This week’s carriageway closures - which begin tonight (Tuesday, February 9) - are needed to extend traffic management as work between the two junctions is rolled out. It will mean narrowed lanes and a 50mph speed limit – backed by average speed cameras – starting just north of Lymm Services at junction 20 instead of just south of the slip roads onto the M56 at junction 20a.

This week’s work will take place between 11pm and 5am each night. So far southbound closures of the carriageway between junction 20a and junction 19 for Tuesday and Wednesday nights (February 9-10) are confirmed with Thursday night (February 11) earmarked as a contingency in case of poor weather.

RELATED STORY:M6 in Cheshire boosted by £14.5m improvement programme

Closures of the northbound carriageway on Friday and Saturday night (February 12-13) are also being considered with Sunday night (February 14) as a contingency. However, the northbound closures, between junction 19 and junction 20, are yet to be confirmed.

Diversions planned

Clearly-signed diversions will be in place. Southbound drivers will need to leave the M6 at Lymm Interchange, travel to junction 7 of the eastbound M56 and use the southbound A556 to re-join the M6 at Knutsford.

For the northbound closures, drivers will be diverted off at junction 19 and will need to use the northbound A556 to join the westbound M56 at junction 8 and re-join the northbound M6 from Lymm Interchange. Alternatively, drivers can re-join the northbound M6 at junction 20 at Lymm Services via the northbound A556 and westbound A50.

RELATED STORY:Loo roll spillage on M6 blocks lanes

Drivers can check travel conditions before setting out on journeys. Highways England provides live traffic information via its website www.trafficengland.com, local and national radio travel bulletins, electronic road signs and mobile platforms, such as the iPhone. Information is also available from Twitter via @highwaysNWEST as well as services in other regions.

Providing they can do so safely, road users can also call the Highways England customer contact centre on 0300 123 5000 to keep up to date with road conditions.

More information about the project is available at: www.highways.gov.uk/roads/road-projects/M6-junctions-19-20-vehicle-restraint-system-works-and-bridge-strengthening-works