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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
James Holt

Bank holiday traffic chaos as 'severe' congestion caused by water mains works

Drivers faced 'severe' congestion near Stalybridge on Sunday (May 28) due to water mains works being carried out in the local area.

Pictures showed traffic backed up along Hyde Road (A57) and Market Street, at Mottram in Longdendale, as drivers faced delays of up to 40 minutes as they headed out to enjoy the bank holiday sun.

There was also traffic backed up as far as the M67 eastbound, between junctions three and four, as temporary traffic lights were introduced as water works were carried out on the main road.

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United Utilities reported a leak, which has since been repaired, at the junction with Stalybridge Road. The AA reported that there were temporary traffic signals in place due to the water main works on Market Street both ways, with delays expected for road users.

The AA reported that there were temporary traffic signals in place due to water main work (Manchester Evening News)

MancTraffic tweeted that drivers would face 'severe' delays in the local area on Sunday with congestion understood to have also have affected roads in and around Woolley Bridge.

A United Utilities spokesperson said: "Our team repaired a leak on a water main on Market Street today. The work has been completed and the road reinstated. We apologise for any disruption."

The news comes as the RAC had already warned of traffic chaos across the region over the bank holiday weekend, with people expected to be heading out to enjoy temperatures as high as 23C in some areas.

It was predicted that this weekend was set to be the busiest late May bank holiday since before the Covid-19 pandemic hit.

RAC spokesman Rod Dennis said: “We fully expect families to make the most of the largely fine weather over the coming days which is we’re forecasting the busiest late May bank holiday since before the pandemic.

“Into next week and half term for many parts of the UK, day trips will also be a big feature with popular routes to the coasts and countryside becoming busy. Getting away early in the morning or delaying trips until the evening are the best way to avoid the inevitable delays."

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