Driver fury as roadworks cause long traffic jams
FRUSTRATED drivers blasted transport chiefs after roadworks caused traffic chaos in and around Manchester city centre.
Work began on the Manchester and Salford inner relief roads last week, but motorists said delays got far worse yesterday due to children being back at school and more closures being added.
Some drivers said it took them over two hours to complete journeys, while commuters travelling by bus said their travel times doubled.
The longest delays were reported at the junction of Rochdale Road and the Mancunian Way, with drivers reportedly queuing for 66 minutes. There were also tailbacks on Oldham Road, Trinity Way, Dawson Street, the M602 and Regent Road.
Yesterday morning, the council added further lane closures up to Oldfield Road, near Sainsbury’s.
The council tweeted: “Further lane closures have been implemented on Regent Road in both directions from the junction of Oldfield Road to the junction of Trinity Way/Dawson Street. This is as part of the MSIRR works. Please allow extra time for your journey.”
Commuters are being advised to avoid the area, use park and ride services as well as public transport.
But angry drivers caught up in the queues questioned transport chiefs’ decision to launch the works during the autumn, when roads are busier.
Transport chiefs warned journeys in and out of Manchester city centre could double in length as year-long £15m roadworks got underway.
Sue Haymes wrote on Facebook: “These roadworks should have been rolled out in July. It doesn’t help that it’s raining and some people don’t like driving in the rain and also the poor public transport systems, which are making people turn to using their own transport more and more.”
Janet Wolstenholme said: “How are people expected to get to work/ school/college? Why isn’t this being done later at night so it doesn’t cause as much disruption?”
Chris O’Connor said: “Why don’t they do this at this night time like they do on motorways?”
A TfGM spokesman said: “The £15m project is a joint scheme between Manchester and Salford councils, with TfGM providing travel advice and customer information
“The improvement works taking place on Regent Road have been communicated for a number of weeks through the media, social media, outside advertising and radio broadcasts. On Thursday night the full traffic management plan was implemented by Manchester council, meaning Regent Road is now operating with one lane in each direction. As expected this caused significant and long delays during the morning peak on Friday.
“We are advising all road users to follow our travel advice which is available on www.tfgm.com but essentially we are asking that drivers consider their journey times, allow much longer than usual for their commute, consider alternative routes, even if that means going in an opposite direction around the M60 and use public transport.”