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New works add up to more A58 misery

Michael Byrne
26/ 5/2006

MOTORISTS face more misery on the main Rochdale-Littleborough road in the summer.

Drivers have already faced months of delays with various works being carried out, but Doug Collins, of the Council's highways department, told Tuesday's Pennines Township committee meeting there was more bad news to come.

He said: "In mid-summer we will have to resurface part of the A58. I apologise because the road will have to close on one side.

"We'll do it in the summer holidays because there is less traffic on the road. It will be down to one carriageway between 9.30am and 3.30pm and at all other times it will be two carriageways as normal.

"The exact details of the work and date when it will start are yet to be finalised, but it is expected to last about three weeks.

"Most of it will centre around the places where we've already done work this year, such as the lights at Union Road."

The most controversial scheme was the new pedestrian island at the junction with Union Road. For a time this cut the Littleborough-bound carriageway from two to one lane between Birch Road and Smithy Bridge Road.

Work has been carried out at the lights at Birch Road and further pedestrian refuges have been installed at different places along the road.

Angry residents have contacted the Observer in their droves to complain.

At the Pennines meeting Councillor Rosemary Jones said: "With all the disruption there has been recently would it be possible to delay this work until next year."

Mr Collins said: "The money is in the budget this year. Saving it until next year will create problems."