Heads up: Overnight closures on Oldham Way begin tonight

Diversions will be signposted overnight

Oldham Way in the town centre will be closed in both directions for the next four nights.

The road will be closed from 9pm until 6am, between the Kings Road Bridge up to the junction of Prince Street/Oldham Way. Signposted diversions will be in place.

The essential highway improvement works is part of the ambitious Southlink regeneration development.

The council and Transport for Greater Manchester has announced plans to transform the vacant plot of land – formerly Oldham Mumps Railway Station – by building much needed homes on the site.

Under the plans, around 150 residential properties will be built, including a mix of mews, semi-detached, housing blocks and flats.

To pave the way for the development, an upgrade to the existing junction at Prince Street/Oldham Way is needed, including the construction of a fourth arm with traffic signals.

Traffic management will be in place for the duration of the scheme, and could last up to 18 months.

At any point during the works, this may include a combination of:

• Onslip closure from Emmott Way roundabout to Oldham Way, with a diversion in place
• Reduction in traffic lanes along Oldham Way, Prince Street and Lees Road
• Contraflow running on Oldham Way
• Wellington Street (closed to both vehicular and pedestrian traffic)
• Waterloo Street (closed to vehicular traffic)

At the same time the council will also be carrying out essential bridge improvement works at Waterloo Street and Wellington Street, after securing £4.174m worth of funding.

The Southlink scheme is part of the council’s ‘Creating a Better Place’ strategy which aims to transform the town with £285m of investment, including building more than 2,000 new homes in the centre.  

Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something going on in and around Oldham? Let us know by emailing news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk , calling our Oldham-based newsroom on 0161 633 2121 , tweeting us @oldhamchronicle or messaging us through our Facebook page. All contact will be treated in confidence.