Motorists in Cheshire may be pleased to learn the final phase of the £192 million A556 Knutsford to Bowdon dual carriageway project has now been revealed and gets underway in February.

The work is being carried out from junction 19 of the M6 at Knutsford to junction 7 of the M56 at Bowdon and paves the way for a new road to open later this year.

This final phase of development will require a full closure of the A556, as well as the affected M6 and M56 junctions, for the weekend of February 17th to 20th.

Highways England project manager Paul Hampson said: "We are on course to open the new dual carriageway by the end of March, if not sooner.

"As well as starting work next month to connect the new dual carriageway to the M6 and M56 link roads, we'll be using the weekend closures to do some preparation along the existing A556 – which will become a B road with much-improved facilities for pedestrians and cyclists."

Opening of the new road will provide faster and more reliable journeys for travellers between the two motorways in the years ahead. It will also bring to an end several months of disruption for road users in the area.

Ben Robb, brand manager at The Fuelcard People, adds: "Travellers in Cheshire will benefit greatly from this new road upgrade. It means smoother journeys for future road users and fewer delays on some of the country's busiest motorways."