NEW closures to the M56 have been announced, along with details of the work that has been completed so far.

Drivers are being thanked by National Highways as the first phase of a £2.3million project impacting journeys to Manchester Airport on the motorway was completed.

Work will continue to resurface slip roads and large sections of the westbound and eastbound carriageways along the M56.

This is between junctions four for Wythenshawe and six for Hale Barns, with work extending into August, but the remainder of the project will not affect access to the airport at junction five.

Overnight work started in June and included the eastbound carriageway between junctions six and five, hampering people heading to the airport for early morning flights or work.

National Highways says it was keen to get this phase of the work out of the way before the main summer holiday getaway starts.

Project manager Rob Williams said: “We would really like to thank people heading to the airport for work or early morning flights for their patience.

“This is especially for June, when the eastbound M56 was closed at junction seven for five nights, with a lengthy motorway diversion in place.

“This is important, routine, wear and tear work which we can only really do at this time of the year in decent weather.

“We are making good progress and hope motorway users are already enjoying safer and smoother journeys along this section of the M56.”

With all the eastbound carriageway resurfacing complete, the focus of the work has since turned to the westbound M56, with the project resuming on July 15.

The remaining overnight carriageway closures – with none affecting access to the airport – are currently scheduled for the M56 westbound between junctions five and six.

The first will be tonight, Monday, to Friday, followed by more closures on Monday and Tuesday, July 29 and 30, Sunday, August 4, and Thursday and Friday, August 8 and 9.

All of the work, which also includes replacing some bridge joints and traffic detection loops in the road surface, is being done overnight between 9pm and 5am – or 7am on Saturdays – when the motorway is at its quietest.