HIGHWAYS England has released this video showing what junction 19 of the M6 could look like in six years time.

A consultation has been launched today, Wednesday, August 17, for plans to improve junction 19 on the M6 near Knutsford.

Drivers, business owners and residents have been able to find out more about plans for major improvements to the junction at a meeting held today, Wednesday, at the Windmill in Tabley.

That meeting runs until 9pm.

During the five-week consultation, which is due to finish on Friday, September 23, members of the public will be asked to comment on two options of improvements for junction 19.

Option A includes creating a new road on a bridge over the junction, providing a better link between the M6 and A556. Option B includes extra lanes on the existing roundabout to increase capacity and new traffic lights.

Irene Ofei, Highways England Project Manager, said: "With growth planned in the local region this scheme is part of an overall strategic network improvement to ensure the road supports local economic success.

"The scheme builds on our other investment in the area, with the improvements to the M6 junction 20, the M6 smart motorway scheme and the A556 improvement scheme both currently underway.

"This will help reduce congestion in the future, improving safety and journey times for all road users and providing better links for residents and businesses to key roads in the area.

"We encourage people to come along to one of the consultation events today until 9pm this evening in Knutsford, or in Tabley on September 17 to let us know what they think of the plans, or to visit our website for more details."

Cllr Tony Dean, from Knutsford Town Council, added: "The two options are well thought out. Option A is my preference as it does more to reduce journey times and congestion, though I appreciate it does cost more."

Work is currently taking place on a new A556 link road between the M56 and the M6, bypassing the existing A556. A new smart motorway is also being created between junctions 16 and 19 of the M6, where the hard shoulder is being converted to an extra lane and variable speed limits will be used on overhead electronic signs to keep traffic flowing.

The junction improvements are due to start by spring 2020 and will be carried out by contractors for Highways England, improving access to the M56 and providing better and more reliable journeys for drivers.