Highways England is spending £14.5 million on repairs and improvements to the M6 in Cheshire.A combination of bridge repairs and support strengthening, a new concrete central reservation barrier, new steel verge barriers, drainage improvements and resurfacing - will start on Friday (4 December) and is due to be completed in early 2017.It is one of the biggest maintenance projects of its kind undertaken anywhere in the North West in recent years with a total of eight separate projects being combined to minimise future inconvenience to drivers.Highways England senior manager Andy Withington said: “This important investment in maintenance, wear and tear repairs and safety improvements is about delivering a safer and more reliable M6 for drivers. This work will complement the huge investment we’re making in the area with the smart motorway upgrade between junctions 16 and 19 and new A556 bypass.“We’ve thought long and hard about the timing of the work given the proximity of the smart motorway project, but the bridge repairs are essential and by adding the other improvements we won’t need to go back this stretch of the motorway for several years.”The four key phases of the project include:
  • Winter 2015 to spring 2016 – central reservation barrier from junction 19 to Whitley Lane.
  • Winter 2015 to winter 2017 – bridge structure repairs and strengthening works at Swineyard Lane, Whitley Lane and Gore Farm bridges
  • Spring 2016 to summer 2016 - central reservation barrier from Whitley Lane to junction 20
  • Summer 2016 to winter 2017 – drainage upgrade and verge-side safety barrier installation from junctions 19 to 20.