THE M56 at Manchester Airport will close for a whole weekend next month as work to install a £5.5million new bridge at Thorley Lane nears completion.

The final phase of the bridge works will begin with a full weekend closure of the M56 between junction 6 at Hale and junction 5 at Manchester Airport between 10pm on Friday February 27 and 5am on Monday March 2.

Access for people heading to Manchester Airport will be maintained at all times throughout the weekend but other drivers are urged to avoid the area and use the official diversion routes instead.

Highways Agency Project Sponsor Mark Mosley said: “We would like to thank drivers for their patience with our work on this project over the last few months. The end is now in sight and following the demolition of the old bridge last August we have been building the new bridge on a site next to the motorway.

“Over the weekend at the end of February this will be carefully wheeled onto the motorway and then lifted into place.

“As previously publicised, that work does require a second and very unusual full weekend closure of the motorway but access to the airport will be maintained at all times.

“Other drivers should completely avoid this part of the motorway network and use the very good diversions we’ll have in place.”

Over the weekend, drivers heading along the eastbound M56 to Manchester Airport from the M6 will need to leave the motorway at junction 6 and use the short diversion to the airport via Runger Lane.

All other drivers will need to use the M6, M62 and M60 diversion route in place from junction 9 of the M56 at Lymm Interchange.

Drivers travelling to and from the airport are being asked to leave extra time to complete their journeys.