Mahdlo work adds to chaos

MOTORISTS are braced for more traffic problems as Oldham’s new £5million youth club gets connected.

To make sure the state-of-the-art Mahdlo building is ready to open in January, essential work needs to be carried out so the youth zone is connected to the underground gas and sewer networks.

But to enable the construction work to be carried out quickly and keep disruption to a minimum two roads — Horsedge Street and Egerton Street — will be closed to traffic.

Egerton Street will be closed for five weeks from Monday and diversions will be signposted. Horsedge Street is already closed and will remain shut for the same length of time.

It will cause more problems for motorists already struggling with roadworks at nearby Mumps because of Metrolink work.

But Oldham Council stresses that by carrying out work simultaneously four weeks will be shaved off the original works’ schedule. Other options rather than closing the roads were considered but would only have meant more delays for motorists.

And while the roads are closed a new lay by is to be built on Egerton Street alongside the new residential development site, which in future will help traffic flow and improve road safety.

It will be used by buses bringing pupils to and from the Blue Coat School — vehicles currently have to wait at the kerbside.

Councillor Dave Hibbert, Cabinet Member for Housing, Transport and Regeneration, said: “Madhlo is a new state-of-the-art facility in Oldham town tentre that will offer every young person in the borough the opportunity to access a top quality, safe and affordable place to spend their leisure time.

“By closing these streets while vital sewer and gas work construction work is carried out we have nearly halved the original proposed time scale.

“To keep disruption to a minimum we have scheduled the work to take place over the school holidays, when Blue Coat is closed, and traditionally when traffic flow is a lot lighter.”

For more information on roadworks visit www.oldham.gov.uk/metrolink_alerts. For more information on Mahdlo log onto www.mahdloyz.org.