Motorists have welcomed news a long stretch of potholed Princess Parkway in Manchester will be resurfaced in the new year, as council bosses outlined details of the major project.
One driver who regularly uses the route through Moss Side towards Hulme and the city centre said: "It's one of the main routes into the city and so really, it should appear more like the great boulevard it should be, rather than the assault course it currently is."
The Manchester Evening News told last month of the road's 'canyon-like' potholes - huge grooves of trench-like craters blighting one of Manchester's busiest arterial routes as the Parkway becomes Princess Road into the city. Town hall chiefs, however, insisted the sections of road were 'structurally safe' despite the 'visual deterioration' of the route's surface.
Now Manchester City Council has revealed resurfacing work will commence on January 9, as road signs advertising the works have gone up at the scene.
A spokesman said the work would entail resurfacing a stretch of the southbound carriageway from Moss Lane East to Great Western Street, and from Claremont Road to Great Western Street, and on the northbound carriageway, between Claremont Road to Moss Lane West.
Works are planned to start on January 9, although the council said it would be dependent on the weather. The whole resurfacing works should last for three weeks.
No temporary traffic lights are planned as yet as it's all dual carriageway, although a council spokesman said: "Final lane arrangements will be determined when we have contractors on site." There will be no night-time works due to proximity of neighbouring apartments and housing, added the council.
Motorists have welcomed the news. One told the M.E.N.: "That stretch of road, probably between the brewery and Whalley Range in both directions, is absolutely riddled with long, deep potholes in the centre of the carriageway. It's been like it for years but has progressively got worse over winters of neglect. They are deep too, the whole top surface of tarmac has been worn away.
"In places the potholes are between five to seven centimetres deep and extending for metres at a time.
"Clearly this a general problem, but for cyclists or motorcyclists it's potentially deadly. Especially when changing lanes, to make a left or right turn for example, you have to run through the potholes and on two wheels, that's the equivalent of getting a wheel trapped in a tramline. The potential to be knocked off balance and into the flowing traffic is increased massively.
"It's incredibly dangerous and it's amazing there has not been a serious accident. For cars too, driving in and out of the broken road surface will damage tyres and wheels overtime. So overall this news is both huge and incredibly welcome for all road users.
"It's one of the main routes into the city and so really it should appear more like the great boulevard it should be, rather than the assault course it currently is."
A spokesperson for Manchester City Council said: "The council is aware of the current degradation on parts of Princess Road, with plans in place for the road to be repaired in January 2023, subject to suitable weather conditions
"While the road has visually deteriorated the Council would like to reassure motorists that it is still structurally safe and will continue to be monitored up to the time of its repair.
"Given this is a key arterial route in and out of Manchester the Council will aim to begin the works during a time when disruption can be minimised."
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