Roadworks suspended as council apologises to drivers
Reporter: JANICE BARKER
Date published: 09 December 2010
PEOPLE power has led to road repairs being suspended until after Christmas — and earned frustrated drivers an apology.
Oldham Council has suspended footway and carriageway works in Shaw Road, Royton, after complaints from drivers that they led to road chaos in Shaw on Tuesday — including one from council leader Howard Sykes.
Now the work has been postponed until New Year, after officers took into account weather conditions and forecasts and listened to the concerns of local residents.
The one-way diversionary route caused traffic to come to a standstill at Shaw’s Big Lamp roundabout and along roads into Oldham.
They were compounded by over-running roadworks in Manchester Road in Shaw, which runs into Shaw Road, caused by the snow and wintry weather.
Councillor Sykes sent a personal letter to Executive Director Elaine McLean after he was caught up in the jams, leading to a three-mile journey taking 45 minutes on Tuesday.
At first engineers were going to adjust timings on traffic lights on the diversions to help the flow of traffic.
But yesterday afternoon, after more complaints to the council and via the Chronicle, work between Albion Gardens and Cowlishaw Lane was suspended.
The council is also to review the way the work is being carried out to reduce the disruption further.
Councillor John McCann, Cabinet member for regeneration and environment, said: “First of all let me apologise to residents who experienced difficulties due to the start of work on Shaw Road.
“We listened to comments from residents and officers who immediately visited the site.
“We have now reviewed our approach and this work — which will significantly improve the carriageway and pavements — will now be completed in the New Year.
“There will inevitably be some disruption which we are working to keep to a minimum.”
The work is part of the council’s £10 million investment to improve the highways network over four years, by a mix of resurfacing and reconstruction of footpaths and carriageways across the borough.
