Before the road closure on Shaw Road due to the Gas Main works I asked that the signals at the above location could be altered to allow maximum flows from Shaw to Oldham/Oldham to Shaw.

Below is a summary of the current position I have received from Highways about this matter.

The signal timings have been stretched to accommodate through traffic.

The problem is the volume of traffic using the one main road due to the closures.

The closures are due to last two more weeks. It is the right turners at the junction that hold up traffic, but that was always the case even prior to the closures.

The Council had an initial problem on day one due to BT turning up unannounced and setting up temporary signals near to Heyside Avenue and a highway incursion barriered off on the bends at Heyside. They were quickly removed from site.  Also, it can take four or five days for motorists to get used to the new routes and look at alternatives or varying their journey start times.

The Council was aware there would likely be severe disruption due to the volume of traffic but unfortunately there is not a lot that can be done about this. Some vehicles will use Royton / High Crompton and some will cut through estate roads on to Cornish Way / Blackshaw Lane. These routes are not sign posted.

We will experience similar problems when Crompton Way starts, as we will have two main roads of traffic approaching the roundabout and then traffic management on Crompton Way. At times I can see that we will have traffic queuing on the roundabout and down both Oldham Road and Manchester Road. Although the hours of working are off peak (9.30am-3.30pm) traffic will build up during the day and it could take some time to clear afterwards.

On a positive note, the contractor has informed us that he is ahead of schedule, so the temporary signals that were planned to last up to the end of October after the closures have come off, will not be as invasive as first thought.