Holidaymakers using Manchester Airport warned of further chaos this weekend as section of M56 to close

Holidaymakers are being urged to plan ahead as a partial closure of the M56 near Manchester Airport this weekend is set to cause long delays.

The motorway will be closed in both directions from 9pm on Friday, March 25 to 5.30am on Monday, March 28. For those travelling towards Manchester junctions nine at Lymm Interchange to junction five for Manchester airport will be shut.

For drivers travelling away from Manchester, junction five to junction eight at Bowden will be closed. Diversions are in place but are set to add an extra 25 miles to motorist's journey times.

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Manchester Airport has warned passengers to allow extra time to arrive for their flights. It comes as bosses warned that long queues which have plagued the airport are set to continue 'for weeks.'

Huge snaking queues have been reported at Check-in, Security, and Passport Control, as well as issues in other departments including baggage reclaim. It has in the words of one passenger, created 'carnage' for many travellers.

This week, bosses admitted they are struggling with staff shortages due to a surge in international travel following the lifting of all remaining coronavirus measures. Karen Smart, managing director of Manchester Airport, said: "We want to apologise to all our customers who have experienced disruption over the last couple of weeks.

"We want to be clear with our customers that getting back to full strength is going to take time and there will unfortunately be periods over the next few weeks when it will take longer to get through the airport than it should."

The M56 closure is necessary to install two 60 tonne 'superspan' gantries and other equipment in