M56 motorway
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The M56 motorway, also known as the North Cheshire motorway, is a major road in England. It runs south of the River Mersey, paralleling the A56 road, and M62 motorway north of the river. The motorway is often busy with long-distance commuters and airport traffic.
The M56 runs west from its junction with the M60 motorway just south of Manchester, then passes Manchester Airport, Altrincham, M6 motorway, Warrington, Runcorn and Ellesmere Port, before finishing just north of Chester. From here a dual carriageway continues to Queensferry and North Wales. To reduce congestion, traffic for North Wales can take the roughly equivalent route M53/A55.
DATES OF OPENING
Open Jct Section
1971 J11-14 Preston Brook - Hapsford
1972 J1-7 Wythenshawe - Bowden
1974 J7-9 Bowden - Lymm
1975 J9-11 Lymm - Preston Brook
1981 J14-16 Hapsford - A5177
FACTS
Start Cheadle (M60)
Finish Chester (A5117)
Passes Manchester, Warrington, Runcorn and Ellesmere Port
Length 34 miles
Meets M6, M53