New Saddleworth School roadworks to begin next month

Major works to create a new access road to the new Saddleworth School will begin next month. 

Once complete, the scheme will improve Huddersfield Road and provide a direct route to the Diggle school which is set to open in March, 2022. 

New parking, including spaces for residents, will also be built along with new traffic signals and push button pedestrian crossings.

Footway improvements, landscaping and new boundary walls will also be completed, along with other improvements. 

The works are due to begin on Monday, April 19, 2021. 

This is a major construction project and to enable to works to be carried out safely, a diversion will be in place for approximately six months, with the road due to be open as normal by winter 2021.  

During this time, there will be unavoidable disruption to residents and road users. 

The diversion scheme has been designed to support traffic to flow during peak periods as much as possible. 

A temporary one-way system on Huddersfield Road, from the school access road, to Standedge Road will be put in place.  

Traffic wishing to travel northbound on Huddersfield Road will instead be directed along the A670 Standedge Road to its junction with the A62 Huddersfield Road.

Traffic will then turn right onto the A62 Huddersfield Road and continue eastbound along the A62 Fields Road/Huddersfield Road before turning southbound onto Huddersfield Road. 

Highway improvements will be made to support vehicle movements. 

Spurn Lane will become access only during the works period to protect residents from ‘rat running’ and will be closed to all vehicles.  

To enable the safe manoeuvre of vehicles, the A62 Huddersfield Road and A62 Standedge Cutting will be reduced to 30mph, and resurfacing will be carried out in advance of works starting to improve the road surface where needed. 

A three-tonne weight restriction will be temporarily lifted so larger vehicles can travel on Huddersfield Road as part of the diversion. 

Council officials are working with waste management to ensure refuse collections continue to take place and the impact of the diversion on services is kept to a minimum.  

Access for pedestrians, bicycles and emergency vehicles will always be available throughout the highways works. 

An Oldham Council spokesperson said: “We know these works are going to have a big impact on Diggle and we have developed a traffic management scheme which allows traffic to flow as much as possible.  

“Contractors will aim to minimise disruption as much as possible, but due to the scale of the works, this is unfortunately unavoidable, so please plan your journeys in advance.  

“These works are essential in bringing us one step closer to delivering the brand-new Saddleworth School which will provide our young people with the much-needed, modern, learning environment they deserve.” 

Updates will be provided throughout the highways project at: www.oldham.gov.uk/newsaddleworthschool and Diggle residents will receive a letter with detailed information about the works. 

You can also email: saddleworth.school@oldham.gov.uk if you have any questions or queries. 

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