PROPOSALS to widen the M6 will cause traffic chaos, rather than resolve issues, councillors will be told.
Members of Vale Royal Borough Council's executive meet tomorrow to draw up comments on the controversial proposals to send to highways chiefs.
Three options have been put forward for the 50-mile development between Junctions 11a and 19 for Northwich and Knutsford - widening the M6 either through adding extra lanes on each side or by constructing a new four-lane carriageway alongside the existing lanes, or creating an M6 Expressway toll road that will run parallel to the motorway.
But councillors are being asked to express their concern over the proposals.
A report to be discussed by the executive tomorrow raises fears that traffic coming off the extra roads or the toll road at Junction 19 headed for Manchester will become grid-locked on the A556, which is currently the only link between the M6 and the M56 towards Manchester.
It says that, if expansion plans go ahead, the new road should be extended to Junction 20 with the M56, and that plans for the creation of an eastbound spur to allow vehicles to join the M56 for Manchester be resurrected.
The report recommends several comments be made to the Highways Agency, which is promoting the scheme. They include: nThe council remains concerned the capacity improvements will end at Junction 19. Capacity improvements should extend to at least Junction 20.
The decision not to build an eastbound link at Junction 20 should be reviewed as without it there would be traffic chaos at Junction 19, undermining the primary aim of providing a better link between the West Midlands and the North West. nIf an eastbound spur at Junction 20 is not put in place, capacity improvements along the A556 between the M6 and the M56 must be made.
Proposals to charge users on a toll road would disadvantage businesses in Mid Cheshire. nThe proposals will have a significant impact on the environment, whichever one is taken forward. Other measures should be considered.
The council is expected to agree that its preferred option would be 'parallel widening' - building a new road to one side of the existing motorway - which it says would strike the 'best balance' between the impact on the environment and land use and likely disruption to existing M6 and local road users.
Transport Minister Alistair Darling is expected to announce what will happen next year.
But Middlewich mayor Chalky White said: 'This is a big issue which could threaten huge sections of the Middlewich countryside.'
