Photos showed traffic backed up at rush hour as commuters tried to get home from work
20:37, 20 Jul 2026Updated 20:38, 20 Jul 2026
The Oldham flyover closure causing traffic chaos along Oldham Way/Ashton Road(Image: Jason Roberts /Manchester Evening News)
The closure of the Oldham flyover at a major route in and out of the town centre is causing traffic chaos. It’s been two days since the closure of the major junction – and it is set to go on for more than six weeks.
Today (July 20) on the first weekday of the closure, traffic was clogged up around the town centre as drivers navigated around the closed Oldham Way junction.
The major flyover is closed until September as part of £6.5m ‘major concrete repairs’ to fix its ‘poor’ condition. The Manchester Street Viaduct next to Oldham town centre, has closed for refurbishment from July 19 until September 3. This is part of multi-million pound works which started on May 18 and are due to finish in December 2026.
The project is being funded through a mix of Oldham Council as well as Department for Transport funding. The viaduct was built in the 1970s and ‘is now in a poor and deteriorating condition due to its age’.
Oldham Council said: “It is in need of repair and improvement to extend its lifespan, to keep Oldham Way open and maintain the resilience and efficiency of the existing highway network.
“Since being built no maintenance works to halt deterioration have been undertaken. The planned works will ensure the structure remains in service for years to come.
The Oldham flyover closure causing traffic chaos along Oldham Way/Ashton Road(Image: Jason Roberts /Manchester Evening News)
“The planned maintenance works includes waterproofing, expansion joint replacement, concrete repairs, parapet refurbishment and resurfacing.”
In a post on July 20, Oldham Council issued a reminder for drivers, adding: “Please allow extra time for your journey and plan ahead.”
The viaduct is located above the A62 Oldham Way/Manchester Street roundabout and carried high volumes of traffic from Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, and other parts of the borough. The local authority said it was ‘working with our project team to ensure that works are phased in such a way to minimise disruption to local businesses and residents over this period’.
Drivers going south are being told to leave the A62 at the Manchester Street roundabout exit slip road, go around the roundabout and rejoin the A62 at the next slip road. Those going north are being told to do the same in the opposite direction.
Explaining the need for the project, the local authority said: “Typically, highway structures have a design life of up to 120 years. To achieve the design life maintenance interventions are required as materials and components deteriorate over time.
“Manchester Street Viaduct was constructed in the late 1970s. To date, no maintenance works to halt deterioration have been undertaken.
“As such, Oldham Council are undertaking planned maintenance of the viaduct and ensuring the structure remains in service for years to come.
“The planned maintenance works includes waterproofing, expansion joint replacement, concrete repairs, parapet refurbishment and resurfacing.”
Separate routes are also in place for heavy goods vehicles.