M56 Junction 3: Princess Parkway, Manchester
M56 J3. Wythenshawe is to the east and west of J3, and Wythenshawe Hospital is about a mile west.
Brookway Retail Park is about a mile and a half north-west, and Gatley station a similar distance east. Runway Visitor Park appears about two and a half miles south.
Junction 3A is about half a mile away and Sharston Interchange just under a mile.
Check this junction now: live M56 speed flow map · latest M56 traffic news · M56 trends
Collisions near junction 3: the police recorded 7 injury collisions on the M56 within about 2.5 km of this junction in 2024 and 2025 (2 serious, 5 slight); 3 in darkness; 4 in the morning or evening rush hour. Figures: Department for Transport, STATS19 police collision records.
- Junction M56 J3
- Signed for A5103 · Princess Parkway, Manchester
- Next junction westbound J4, 0.7 miles
- Next junction eastbound J2, 1.0 miles
Live traffic at M56 junction 3
The speed strip below shows the M56 from junction 1 to junction 5, both directions, from National Highways’ live data, checked every five minutes.
Live traffic speed flow: M56 Junctions 1 to 5
Untick all three to see just the speeds. We show the important overhead signs and the mandatory speed limits (red ring); see every overhead sign.
Go to our live M56 traffic speed flow map ›
NOTE: The speed flow, overhead sign messages or other information shown on our live traffic speed flow map is updated every few minutes. We cross check the data and aim to provide warnings if there could be a delay or an inaccurate speed reading. There can be occasions, beyond our control, and despite our best efforts where the speed flow could be inaccurate. We cannot therefore guarantee the speed you can expect on any stretch of the motorway is always accurately shown. However we hope you will find our live traffic speed flow map a useful tool in trying to plan your journey. Safe driving.
All the latest M56 traffic news →Live M56 traffic flow map →
Around M56 Junction 3: Towns and Places on the Map
| Place | What it is | From the junction |
|---|---|---|
| Wythenshawe Hospital | Hospital | About 1 mile west |
| Brookway Retail Park | Shopping | About 1.5 miles north-west |
| Gatley | Railway station | About 1.5 miles east |
| Heald Green | Railway station | About 2 miles south-east |
| East Didsbury | Railway station | About 2.5 miles north-east |
| Runway Visitor Park | Attraction | About 2.5 miles south |
| Navigation Road | Railway station | About 3 miles west |
| Burnage | Railway station | About 3 miles north-east |
Junctions either side
Live traffic news at M56 Junction 3
Incidents and roadworks between Junction 2 and Junction 4 that we are aware of.
M56 Eastbound Jct 6 to 4 hardshoulder closure
01:36 (1:36am)22 Oct 2026reported 41 min ago
- Location
- M56 eastbound between J5 and J4
- Direction
- Eastbound
- Lanes closed
- Hard shoulder closed
- Reason
- Maintenance work
- Schedule
- 09:54 (9:54am) Mon 5 Oct 2026 → 17:00 (5pm) Wed 11 Nov 2026
This is the news for Junction 3 only, not the whole M56. For the rest of the motorway see all the latest M56 traffic news, the overhead signs and the speed limits in force now.
Updated 02:17 (2:17am) Thu 22 Oct 2026