Drivers, business owners and residents will be able to find out more about two options for a new junction 11a on the M56 in Cheshire at an information event.

The event will take place on Tuesday, September 6, from 10am–8pm at Runcorn Linnets Football Club in Murdishaw Avenue in Runcorn.

Comments will help inform proposals for a consultation later in the year.

Plans are in development for the new junction to ease congestion, relieve pressure on junction 12 and improve connections to the Mersey Gateway. Outline designs are currently being developed for the two options.

The M56 is an important strategic route, linking North Wales to Manchester and the M6 as well as the Wirral, via the A55 and M53. It also provides links to Chester, Manchester Airport, south Warrington and Liverpool John Lennon Airport.

Project manager Sophie Diver said: “The government is investing heavily in additional capacity and connections to future-proof our network and to reflect the growth in the regional economy.

“The M56 is an important strategic route for the North West. Drivers will benefit from the additional capacity and connectivity that a new junction will provide.”

The options being considered are as follows:

East option - This would introduce a new junction to the east of the West Coast Main Line connecting to the A56 Chester Road to the south and the existing Murdishaw roundabout to the north.

West option - This option would introduce a new junction to the west of the West Coast Main Line connecting to a new roundabout at the south and the A533 Southern Expressway to the north.

Sophie Diver added: “We are carrying out a number of surveys in the area to gather information, which will help us to develop each improvement option.

“Ecology surveys are taking place to identify if any protected species are present. This will help us to understand the environmental impacts.

“We expect to announce a preferred route in spring 2017. The construction is expected to begin by March 2020.”

More information on the scheme is available on Highways England’s web page for the proposals at: www.highways.gov.uk/m56junction11a