As part of Metrolink’s on-going work to divert utility pipes and cables in readiness for the new tram line through Oldham town centre, work will begin on Union Street within the next few weeks.
Work to construct a new system of maintenance shafts and chambers on Union Street, providing access to the United Utilities wastewater pipes running beneath the new route, is set to begin on Tuesday 1 November and is expected to continue until mid-February.
While the new wastewater access is constructed, work will also continue on Union Street to divert other utility services, for example clean water pipes and telecommunications cables, in preparation for tram track to be laid.
Once complete, this work will ensure Metrolink services can continue to run while any future maintenance to the wastewater network is safely carried out.
Oldham’s Cabinet Member for Transport and Regeneration, Councillor David Hibbert, said:
“The Union Street work is a complex and challenging project, which involves construction of a completely new system of access to the wastewater pipes.
“This work is essential to bringing Metrolink through Oldham town centre, ensuring that tram services can continue to operate while any future maintenance is carried out to the wastewater network beneath Union Street.
“The construction of the new tram line is a major civil engineering project and disruption is an inevitable part of a project of this scale; however, I am confident the short-term impact of this work will be balanced by the benefits of having a frequent, high quality tram service in the town centre.”
To facilitate the work, traffic on Union Street will become one way (westbound only) on Tuesday 1 November. This will remain in place for the majority of the Union Street work, including for the entire pre-Christmas shopping period.
After the New Year, there will be some instances where traffic diversions will be in place on Union Street due to the scale of the work programmed at that point. This has been planned to take place after the busy Christmas period, to minimise disruption to traffic.
