Townhead junction roadworks to commence on Monday 22 June

Townhead junction

The final stage of work on the Townhead junction will take place between Monday 22 June and Sunday 29 November 2015.

A series of improvements will be made to the junction of John Street, Whitworth Road, Yorkshire Street and St Mary’s Gate in Rochdale.

Once this final stage is completed, motorists will be able to use new lanes for turning right from the A58 into Whitworth Road and John Street. This will allow the traffic signals to operate much more effectively - increasing traffic capacity through the junction and improving safety for drivers and pedestrians.

Rochdale Council Highways and Engineering Service has planned the work to finish as quickly as possible while ensuring the safety of road users and the workforce throughout the project. The work is taking place during the summer school six-week holidays when traffic is lighter, however, the work will cause disruption and inconvenience to some drivers, especially at peak times. Diversion routes will be clearly signposted but motorists may want to consider an alternative route.

Phase One: no left turn from Whitworth Road
Expected dates of work: Monday 22 June to Sunday 19 July 2015

During phase one, the left turn lane from Whitworth Road in to Yorkshire Street will be widened by setting the footpath back into the grass verge from just south of the Tanners Arms pub. It will tie back into the existing footpath on Yorkshire Street just before the existing bus stop heading towards Littleborough.

During these works, motorists won’t be able to turn left out of Whitworth Road into Yorkshire Street. Pedestrians will be able to safely cross using the island to the north of the Tanners Arms pub and/or at the pelican crossing on Yorkshire Street.

Phase Two: closure of Whitworth Road and John Street
Expected dates of work: Monday 20 July to Sunday 30 August 2015

The phase two work involves the construction of new traffic islands at the bottom of Whitworth Road and at the top of John Street. This work will include the removal and replacement of guard rails, traffic signals, bollards, kerbs and pedestrian crossing points.

Whitworth Road will be closed from Duke Street to St Mary’s Gate. John Street will be closed from Molesworth Street to St Mary’s Gate, including the left turn from Baillie Street in to John Street. Access to businesses and residential properties will be maintained at all times.

Throughout this phase, the traffic signals on the A58 (St Mary's Gate/Yorkshire Street) will be turned off and traffic will run freely, ahead only. However, it may be necessary to reduce the carriageways to one lane only at certain times.

The signalised pedestrian and cycle facilities currently in place will be switched off and alternative diversion routes will be clearly signed. Pedestrians and cyclists will be able to safely cross using the island to the north of the Tanners Arms pub and/or at the pelican crossing on Yorkshire Street.

Phase Three: all routes re-open on a single-lane approach
Expected dates of work: Monday 1 September to Sunday 29 November 2015

Whitworth Road and John Street will reopen during phase three and the remaining work will take place using temporary, four-way traffic signals. All approaches to the junction will be reduced to single lanes.

Additional lanes will be constructed in the central reservations on St Mary's Gate and Yorkshire Street which will provide right-turn lanes in to Whitworth Road and John Street from the A58. This work will require lane closures as and when required.

The carriageway will be partially re-surfaced and new road markings applied. This work will be carried out over night with the junction closed to traffic.

Throughout the phase three works pedestrian and cycle diversion routes will be clearly signed. Pedestrians and cyclists will be able to safely cross using the island to the north of the Tanners Arms pub and/or at the pelican crossing on Yorkshire Street.