Peering into the future of manholes

Christine McCarthy, from United Utilities, and Peter Povey, from Saint Gobain, inspect the new manhole cover

Oldham residents will no longer be rattled by clunking manholes as the next generation of covers is installed.

The manhole cover is getting a makeover by water company United Utilities and manufacturer Saint Gobain PAM UK.

They have launched a groundbreaking flip lid manhole cover which will reduce metal thefts, staff injuries and road traffic accidents and the irritating rattling that can be caused by loose-fitting covers.

The device, called the Ult-Emax, uses a hinge which allows engineers to get to the manhole without lifting, reducing back injuries, and eliminating rattles.

A locking bar fixes the cover in place to prevent theft and vandalism.

They can also be fitted with a special skid-resistant coating to reduce the risk of motorcyclists losing control in the wet.

United Utilities will replace every manhole cover in Oldham soon. More than 1,000 have already been fitted across the North-West.

Christine McCarthy, technical projects manager for United Utilities, said: “This manhole has huge potential to improve road safety, reduce workplace injuries and cut crime. It will even tackle that maddening rattling noise that we have all had to endure at some point.”