Road closure causes chaos for motorists

ROADWORKS on Middleton Road, Streetbridge

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A ROAD closure to allow a wastewater pipe to be introduced as part of a £80million project is causing chaos, drivers have claimed.

United Utilities began work on Streetbridge, near the bridge under the A627 (M), Chadderton, on Monday so they can introduce a new wastewater pipe. The road is expected to be closed for eight weeks, but some drivers are unimpressed by the disruption.

It is part of an £80 million project to improve Oldham and Royton's wastewater treatment systems, which will see the Royton plant closed down and a new 4.5km pipeline transfer the sewer flows for treatment at the treatment works in Chadderton.

The Chadderton plant is undergoing a major upgrade so it will be able to treat wastewater from the whole area to the new standards, meaning cleaner water in the River Irk and a cleaner local environment.

Although drivers have been warned about the closure, Facebook users have complained that the closure is poorly signposted on approach and unsuspecting drivings, particularly HGVs, are finding themselves trapped and having to attempt a U-turn, causing surrounding traffic to stop completely.

Furthermore, some claim to have witnessed drivers foolishly ignoring road signs before realising there is no access at all and must turn around.

GMP Chadderton notified people by posting on their Facebook account and asked drivers to plan their journeys to avoid congestion.

Commenting on the post, Margaret Bennett said: "I think United Utilities ought to put the road closed sign up outside St Matthew's Church, NOT round the corner on Mill Brow as a lot of traffic including large lorries and buses are still turning into Mill Brow off Burnley Lane and by the time they see the sign it is too late. Lots of cars doing three point turns on Mill Brow and wagons having to reverse back up to Burnley Lane. Chaos."

Barbara Townend agreed, she said: "Enormous HGV reversing lunchtime today - no traffic able to move at all."

Jo Sipe wrote: "I live on Mill Brow, it took me half an hour to get from home to my farm on Royton's Thorpe Estate! Half the road at the top of Mill Brow has signs up, saying diversion and road closed... but drivers were just going round them, then having to turn around - ha ha."

Chris Tighe, project coordinator for United Utilities, said: "We understand the road closure is inconvenient but we are carrying out a major piece of civil engineering. We need to dig a deep trench for the new pipeline and there would not be enough room to do that safely if we kept the road open. We have planned this with the council and the bus company and we will do the work as quickly as we can.