Drivers warned of major delays which could last FOUR weeks amid Mancunian Way closures

Drivers will face delays on Mancunian Way from next week as safety inspections will see lane closures.

Lanes will be closed on the motorway, one of Manchester’s busiest roads, as well as on two footbridges to allow safety works to go ahead. The nine-week project will start on Sunday (January 7), and will involve ‘specialised investigations for each bridge structure including running surfaces, waterproof membranes, tension cables and anchoring points’.

However, the essential bridge maintenance will not mean lanes of the A57(M) will be closed for all nine weeks. Instead, they will only be in place for a month.

Try MEN Premium now with our amazing New Year offer... just click here to give it a go.

That being said, although Mancunian Way will only be affected by lane closures, the Bonsall Street Bridge — only open to buses, cyclists, and pedestrians — and the Freeman Street Footbridge will be fully closed. Manchester City Council says that is necessary ‘based on the scope of works required for these bridges’.

“We understand that this period of work may be disruptive, however, these inspection works are vital and we will endeavour to complete them as quickly as possible,” added Councillor Tracey Rawlins, Executive Member for Environment and Transport.

“Safety is and will remain our top priority and we must ensure that our roads and bridges remain safe to use and drive on. During this time, there will of course be heavier levels of traffic – especially during peak periods – therefore, I would ask people to please plan ahead and use the TfGM journey planner.”

The schedule of works is as follows:

Mancunian Way has also recently been the subject of a consultation on the future of its speed limit, with council officials