Oldham roads closed for 10 weeks for drainage works

Drivers in Oldham are facing a 10-week headache as major road closures begin for essential drainage works. London Road between Yates Street and Frances Street is now shut to traffic, along with a 30-metre section of Sydenham Street near its junction with London Road. The closures started on February 16 and will last until mid-April, forcing residents and businesses to find new routes through the area.

Oldham Council says the work is needed to install new drainage connections, but the disruption will be significant for local people. Anyone trying to get through the area will need to use alternative routes-either heading east via Sydenham Street, Stoneleigh Street and Westminster Street, or west via Fontwell Lane, Acre Lane, Yates Street and Cheltenham Street. That's a lot of extra turns for what used to be a straightforward journey.

Local businesses along the affected roads are particularly worried about the impact. Delivery drivers, commuters and residents who use these routes daily will all need to factor in extra time for their journeys. The council has made the closure order available for inspection at Spindles Oldham during weekday office hours, though most people will just want to know how to get where they're going without the hassle.

This isn't the first time Oldham's roads have been dug up for infrastructure work, and it won't be the last. But 10 weeks is a long time to be without key routes, especially with the weather still unpredictable. The council says the drainage improvements are necessary, but for now it's the residents and businesses who'll be feeling the pinch as they navigate the maze of diversions.