Road closures and Metrolink works to cause traffic chaos in Manchester this weekend

Transport bosses have issued an urgent weekend warning as congestion in the centre of Manchester is 'expected on the roads at all times' on Saturday and Sunday.

Major Metrolink engineering will take place combined with roadworks and road closures, two huge concerts at Manchester Arena and Manchester United playing at home. Some buses, said Transport for Greater Manchester, are likely to run on different routes in the city centre due to the planned road closures.

Due to Metrolink engineering works, no trams will run to Shudehill, Market Street or Piccadilly Gardens over the weekend. Services will operate via St Peter's Square and Exchange Square instead. Trams on the Ashton and Eccles lines, meanwhile, will run to Piccadilly and Cornbrook respectively, with replacement buses running between Cornbrook and Piccadilly and between Victoria and Piccadilly.

Roadworks will see the closure of Shudehill northbound between High Street and Thomas Street from 1am on Saturday through to 5am on Monday. There will be no access to Mosley Street between Charlotte Street and Parker Street, and no access to New York Street from York Street over the same period.

John Dalton Street, meanwhile, is due to be closed in both directions on both days between Deansgate and Bow Street for the installation of a crane, subject to the weather. A signed diversion will be in place.

And in Ancoats, Thompson Street is also due to be shut westbound one way on both days between Oldham Road and Rochdale Road for the removal of a crane, work which is also subject to the weather conditions. A signed diversion will be in place there, too.

TfGm said: "People travelling into Manchester city centre this weekend are being urged to plan ahead with major roadworks and