M56 motorway (Great Britain)

M56
Looking east from Junction 14
Route information
Part of E22
Length:	33.3 mi (53.6 km)
Existed:	1971 – present
History:	Constructed 1971–1981
Major junctions
East end:	Cheadle
	J1 → M60 motorway Junction 4 J9 → M6 motorway Junction 20 J15 → M53 motorway Junction 11
West end:	Mollington
Location
Primary destinations:	Manchester Manchester Airport Warrington Runcorn Ellesmere Port Chester
Road network
Roads in the United Kingdom Motorways A and B road zones

The M56 motorway, also known as the North Cheshire motorway, is in Cheshire and Greater Manchester, England. It runs from junction 4 of the M60 to Dunkirk, Cheshire and is 33.3 miles (53.6 km) in length. It is often busy with long-distance commuter traffic towards North Wales. It serves commuters heading to Manchester particularly those from the wider Cheshire area and gives access to Manchester Airport from the national motorway network.

The road forms part of the unsigned Euroroute E22.

Although the main line of the motorway starts as a continuation of the A5103 Princess Parkway, the M56 begins on Sharston Spur (also known as the Sharston Bypass) where it detaches from the M60 motorway. After passing through junctions 1 and 2, the spur joins the main line at junction 3, increasing from two lanes to four to accommodate Manchester Airport traffic.

The road then heads south to the west of Wythenshawe and Manchester Airport until it reaches junction 6, where it turns west. It runs to the south of Hale, reducing to three lanes. It passes junctions 7 and 8 which are part of the same complex. Junction 8 was planned to be used by the proposed A556(M)). The current proposals are to upgrade the A556 to a dual carriageway. Traffic for the southbound M6 leaves here and this junction can suffer from congestion. The motorway then enters a more rural setting between Broomedge and High Legh.