RESIDENTS are being invited to see for themselves next week plans for a £50 million improvement at junction 19 of the M6 at Knutsford.

The planned multi-million pound investment in one of Cheshire’s busiest motorway roundabouts takes a step forward when detailed proposals are presented at two public exhibitions.

The information events take place at Mere and Tabley Community Club, Chester Road, Mere, between 2pm and 8pm on Thursday, May 3, and from 10am and 6pm on Wednesday, May 16.

Work on the improvements is scheduled to start by the spring of 2020.

It was revealed in June that three-quarters of drivers had backed the idea of a new bridge across the middle of the roundabout - where the M6 meets the A556.

Highways England has now refined the idea and, next week, road users and residents will get a chance to view the proposals before statutory processes begin later this year – paving the way for a start to construction.

Highways England project manager Jamie Carruthers said: “These information events are a great way for members of the public to view our updated plans and come to talk to us about this scheme.

“We are keen to present the plans to the public again before we get the statutory processes under way and look to start by March 2020.”

The new bridge through the roundabout and over the M6 will provide dedicated link roads between the northbound M6 and the new northbound A556 Knutsford to Bowdon dual carriageway as well as the southbound M6 onto the southbound, local, A556 road towards Northwich.

As well as the new bridge the proposals include improvements to the existing roundabout and slip roads to increase capacity; new traffic lights on the roundabout and its approach roads; new traffic lights for the Tabley Hill Lane/Pickmere Lane junction and improved local access for walkers and cyclists using the junction.

More information on the project, including a leaflet, is available from roads.highways.gov.uk/projects/m6-junction-19