Motorists travelling in the Mumps area in Oldham can expect disruption for more than a year as major works have got under way.
Electricity North West has started work on Oldham Way before essential highways improvements can be carried out as part of the ambitious Southlink regeneration development.
Recently, the council and Transport for Greater Manchester announced plans to transform the vacant plot of land – formerly Oldham Mumps Railway Station – by building homes on the site.
Under the plans, in the region of 150 residential properties would 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.
The council says traffic management will be in place for the duration of the scheme.
At any point, 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 (i.e. closing one side of the road and running both directions of traffic on the either side of the central reserve).
At the same time, the council will also be carrying out essential bridge improvement works at Waterloo Street and Wellington Street, after the authority secured £4.174 million worth of funding.
The work is expected to last for up to 18 months.
Emma Barton, Executive Director for Place & Economic Growth, said: “Southlink is a major housing scheme and to make it happen we need to improve the road layout around Mumps.
“We know this work will cause inconvenience to motorists and we apologise for that in advance – but bear with us. Oldham needs more quality, modern, affordable homes and we are making this happen.
“The council, and our partners, are redeveloping sites and bringing new life into areas - helping to support residents and welcoming new people into the area.”
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.
Other projects under way in the town centre include redevelopment of the Spindles Town Square Shopping Centre and the relocation of Tommyfield Market.
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