Rochdale town centre on the road to better highways

A Rochdale street will be closed for four weeks from Monday (28 Oct), as the council continues its highways improvement programme in the town centre.

The closure of Milton Street, which runs between the entrance to Mecca Bingo and the Penn Street car park, will enable the council to make it two-way to ensure drivers can get around the rapidly changing town centre quickly and easily.

It will also improve access to the temporary 200 space car park which is due to open on the former bus station site at the end of November.

The scheme includes the formation of a new mini roundabout at the junction of Baillie Street and Milton Street.

The closing times are as follows:

• From Monday 27th October to Friday 31st October - Milton Street to be closed to traffic between 9.30am and 3.30pm
• From Monday 3rd November to end of November - Milton Street to be closed to traffic 24 hours a day.

The changes mean that drivers leaving car parks for the Wheatsheaf shopping centre, Penn Street, Baillie Street and Telegraph House, will only be able to leave via Baillie Street and then up John Street.

Motorists who need to access the southern side of town are advised to turn right at the top of John Street onto Halifax Road and take another right onto Entwisle Road close to the new fire station.

During the closure, drivers accessing Number One Riverside and Mecca Bingo will need to do so from Smith Street.

Pedestrians will still be able to use Milton Street throughout the duration of the works.

Councillor Jacqui Beswick, Cabinet for Environment at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “Our highways team are working hard to ensure that our road network is fit for the future, which will see a very different town centre with more shops and leisure facilities. We apologise for any inconvenience these changes may cause, but it’s vital we undertake this work so our residents and visitors can get around the town centre as easily as possible.”