Highways England engineers have achieved a key milestone in the creation of a new link road that will provide great benefit to travellers in Cheshire in the years ahead.

The new A556 Knutsford to Bowdon link road has now been opened and last weekend saw the beginning of new free-flow arrangements with the M56 that will significantly improve journey times for drivers in the area.

Delivered as part of a £196 million investment in local transport infrastructure, the project hopes to reduce levels of congestion between between junction 19 of the M6 and junction 7 of the M56 through additional dualling works.

Completion of this latest phase of the scheme means motorists will now have direct access from the northbound A556 to the eastbound M56 and those leaving the westbound M56 will get direct access onto the southbound A556.

Highways England project manager Paul Hampson said: "When the new road is completed these new link road arrangements will play a crucial part in providing drivers with quicker and more reliable journeys between the two motorways."

The scheme forms part of the wider £15 billion government investment in motorways and major A roads up to 2021. It is being delivered by Highways England as part of the Northern Powerhouse initiative.

Ben Robb, brand manager at The Fuelcard People, adds: "Travellers in Cheshire received an excellent Christmas present in the form of the new A556 Knutsford to Bowdon link road."