KNUTSFORDIANS who fancy a trip into Manchester by car on the first weekend of August have been told a bridge over the motorway leading into the city is set to be demolished.

Thorley Lane Bridge over the M56 near Manchester Airport will be demolished over the first weekend in August with a full closure of the motorway in both directions for up to 55 hours.

The Highways Agency is replacing the bridge, just west of junction 5 of the motorway.

Highways Agency Project Sponsor Mark Mosley said: “The existing bridge has weakened with age and has had a weight restriction on it for several years. As part of this important improvement project it will be demolished next month and we will need to close the carriageways over the first weekend in August for to allow us to do that safely.”

The old bridge will be knocked down and taken away during a full closure of the M56 between junction 6 at Hale and junction 5 for Manchester Airport from 10pm on Friday, August 1 and 5am on Monday, August 4.

Drivers on the westbound M56 will still be able to use junction 5 to get to Manchester Airport but people travelling eastbound will need to leave the motorway at junction 6 and take a short diversion via Runger Lane.

Drivers aiming to use the M56 to travel beyond Manchester Airport in either direction will be directed to use the M6, M62 and M60 instead via Lymm (M56), Croft (M62) and Eccles (M60) interchanges.

Local diversions will also be in place.

Installation of the new bridge has been pencilled in for November with further weekend closures of the motorway.