M56 Junction 5: Manchester Airport
M56 J5 — Manchester Airport. Junction 5 of the M56 is the turn for Manchester Airport, which lies about two miles to the south, with Runway Visitor Park a little closer.
The airport has upwards of 500 daily flights, which can increase substantially during peak periods, serving roughly 32 million passengers through two active terminals, with Terminal 2 being the busiest.
Check this junction now: live M56 speed flow map · latest M56 traffic news · M56 trends
Collisions near junction 5: the police recorded 2 injury collisions on the M56 within about 2.5 km of this junction in 2024 and 2025 (2 slight); 1 on a wet or icy surface. These are the police-reported figures published by the Department for Transport (STATS19).
- Junction M56 J5
- Signed for Manchester Airport
- Next junction westbound J6, 0.7 miles
- Next junction eastbound J4, 0.6 miles
Live traffic at M56 junction 5
The speed strip below shows the M56 from junction 3 to junction 7, both directions, from National Highways’ live data, checked every five minutes.
Live traffic speed flow: M56 Junctions 3 to 7
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 5: Towns and Places on the Map
| Place | What it is | From the junction |
|---|---|---|
| Wythenshawe Hospital | Hospital | About 1 mile north |
| Runway Visitor Park | Attraction | About 1.5 miles south |
| Manchester Airport | Airport | About 2 miles south |
| Brookway Retail Park | Shopping | About 2 miles north |
| Heald Green | Railway station | About 2 miles east |
| Hale | Railway station | About 2.5 miles west |
| Quarry Bank Mill | Attraction | About 2.5 miles south-east |
| Navigation Road | Railway station | About 3 miles north-west |
Junctions either side
Live traffic news at M56 Junction 5
Incidents and roadworks between Junction 4 and Junction 6 that we are aware of.
A556 Northbound Lane 2 closure with switching (MP 5/7 to 17/0)
01:36 (1:36am)22 Oct 2026reported 41 min ago
- Location
- M56 eastbound between J7 and J6
- Direction
- Northbound
- Lanes closed
- Lane closures
- Reason
- Roadworks
- Schedule
- 20:32 (8:32pm) Wed 21 Oct 2026 → 06:00 (6am) Thu 22 Oct 2026
+ 1 more near Junction 5 - see all the M56 traffic news →
This is the news for Junction 5 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