£6.5m for Oldham Way repairs both ‘good and bad news’

A study uncovered numerous problems with the structure, which was built in the late 1970s

Repairs costing £6.5m have been agreed for a section of Oldham Way but chiefs say it’s both ‘good and bad’ news as it means more ‘major’ traffic works.

Officially named the Manchester Street Viaduct, the concrete flyover above the Manchester Street roundabout near Oldham town centre is in a ‘poor and deteriorating condition’, according to officers.

A study uncovered numerous problems with the structure, which was built in the late 1970s, including water seepage through joints, concrete cracking, reinforcement corrosion and contaminated concrete.

Now the cabinet has agreed a refurbishment programme totalling £6.5m which will ensure it can continue to be used by motorists and that it meets its intended lifespan of 120 years.

Of the budget, £4.5m is coming from the Department for Transport’s city region sustainable transport settlement, and the remainder is being funded from the council’s highways maintenance pot.

The work will involve concrete repairs and replacement of life-expired components such as expansion joints and bridge deck waterproofing to prevent deterioration of the structure in the future.

Councillor Hannah Roberts, cabinet member for neighbourhoods told the meeting it was ‘both good and bad news’.

“So the good news that we’re going to get the money to do the work that we need to do to keep the bypass operating,” she said.

“The bad news is that this means we’ve got to do yet more major traffic works on the bypass once we start the scheme.”

The repairs to the viaduct are part of the council’s plan to refurbish all the bridges along Oldham Way – which were all built in the 1970s.

The bridges at Waterloo Street and Wellington Street are currently being improved after the authority secured more than £4m of government money to pay for that work.

Designs and specifications for the Oldham Way repairs will be developed in 2023/24 and physical work on the viaduct will start in 2025.

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