Roadworks set to disrupt traffic on busy Oldham route for a month

Motorists in Oldham are being warned to expect disruption on a busy Oldham road for up to four weeks as essential works are carried out.

Roadworks are currently taking place on Manchester Road at the junction with Byron Street with temporary traffic lights in place.  

Motorists are having to wait longer before the lights change to green, but Oldham Council warned they have to carry out the essential works to replace the ageing underground cables.  

Councillor Chris Goodwin, Cabinet Member for Transport and Highways, said: “Electricity North West is currently carrying out essential works as part of a larger nationwide project to replace ageing underground cables. This work is vital to ensure the long-term continuity and reliability of electricity supplies across the borough. 

 “As soon as it became clear that the roadworks were impacting the highway network, a number of additional measures were swiftly put in place. 

 “Temporary traffic signals were reprogrammed to prioritise northbound traffic Manchester Road and continue to be monitored, and temporary traffic lights are now manually operated from 7am to 7pm daily to improve traffic flow. 

 “The contractor has committed to extended hours, now working from 7am to 9pm daily, to speed up progress and minimise disruption, and the taper on Manchester Road was significantly shortened to help reduce congestion. 

 “We will continue to monitor the situation closely. The contractor is providing regular updates and remains fully committed to doing everything possible to minimise disruption while ensuring all works are carried out safely.”