Even more delays on the way as 22 months of roadworks are set to carry on until September

This picture shows some of the work going on at Waterloo Street. Image courtesy of Oldham Council

Drivers in Oldham will have to endure another three months of roadworks around the borough’s busiest thoroughfare, according to Oldham Council.

Oldham Way has already seen 22 months of refurbishment works, but the final stretch of work won’t be completed until September. 

The works are part of a scheme to ‘rejuvenate’ Oldham’s major roads and flyovers, with refurbishments on Wellington Bridge now completed.

While most of Oldham Way is now open, Waterloo Street remains closed between Rhodes Bank and Woodstock Street. 

Part of the Oldham Way is regulated by contra-flow traffic, which is likely to continue causing delays and traffic.

A statement issued by Oldham Council said: “This once in a generation major refurbishment project has taken longer than we estimated because the bridges were found to be in a very poor state when work started. 

“The internal metal structures were found to be very badly corroded and required more repairs than we anticipated.

"Once complete, this investment will provide safe and convenient routes for several decades.

“We apologise for the delays and understand the frustration of residents and motorists.” 

The £4.5m project was initially due to be completed within 18 months.

Now it looks as though it will take more than two years, with costs estimated to have risen. 

A number of motorists have expressed their exasperation online, with some suggesting that more could have been done to avoid the long delays that have beset the project from the beginning. 

One resident commented ironically: “I’m guessing that’ll be September 2025 then?” 

Others argued the delays were ‘unavoidable’ because there was no way of knowing the state of the bridges before the works started.

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