Motorists are being urged to “plan ahead” as Mancunian Way will be closed on what is a busy weekend of events.
This weekend alone, Manchester United will face Tottenham Hotspur in a Premier League clash at home at Old Trafford with a 5:30pm kick-off, boyband The Wanted will take to the stage at the AO Arena as part of their reunion tour, and the Manchester ‘Irish Parade’ will make its through Cheetham Hill to the city centre to mark St Patrick’s Day.
But this is all happening on a weekend when the major road in and out of the city centre, the Mancunian Way, is to be fully closed in both directions.
TfGM says the closure is for “annual maintenance”.
A statement confirming the full closure on its website, TfGM says: “On Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 March, the Mancunian Way will close for its annual maintenance.
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“86,000 vehicles typically use the Mancunian Way on a matchday, so its closure means that a large number of vehicles will be dispersed onto surrounding roads and diversion routes [and] to avoid being caught in the congestion, it’s important that you plan ahead and familiarise yourself with the recommended diversion routes.”
The closure is confirmed to be between Pin Mill Brow and Chester Road roundabout.
For those making their way to one of the aforementioned events, or for those needing to travel into the city centre for other reasons, TfGM has advised that people “plan ahead” and has set out some alternative routes and transport options for motorists to consider.
In most instances, people are being “strongly urged” to use public transport.
For those opting to travel by car, TfGM recommends using the M60 for journeys through the city centre, especially for west to east and east to west trips, and advises using junction 7 to travel into the city centre on the Sunday as this “may be the quickest route”, while also adding that roadworks are also taking place on Trinity Way, which will “affect southbound journey times” near to the AO Arena.
For people heading to Old Trafford who “have no alternative but to drive”, TfGM says it “strongly dissuades” travelling through the city centre, and fans should use the M60 and then travel to the ground via junctions 7 and 9, or use one of the Metrolink Park and Ride sites at either Parkway or Ladywell.
The Mancunian Way will be closed on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 March / Credit: Pixabay
Making your way to AO Arena on either Saturday or Sunday? Again, for those who have no other option but to drive, TfGM recommends travelling early and allowing plenty of time for your journey, and using the M60 and then approaching the Arena from the north via the A580 (junction 14), Bury New Road (junction 17), or the A576 (junction 19).
People travelling into the city centre will also need to plan around the Irish Parade, which is returning to Manchester on Sunday 13 March, and will departing from the Irish Centre at midday and travel south along Cheetham Hill Road to the AO Arena, before turning round and returning to the Irish Centre.
To allow for the parade to take place, a number of road closure will be in place on the day.
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Queens Road (westbound) – 10am to 2:30pm
Queens Road (eastbound) – 11:30am to 2:30pm
Cheetham Hill Road – 11:30am to 2:30pm.
“These closures mean all traffic will need to use alternative routes and there could be congestion on these roads, especially roads near the parade route,” TfGM says.
You can find more information about the Mancunian Way closure this weekend here.
Middleton to receive a cinema and Metrolink as part of regeneration plans
Thomas Melia
Greater Manchester town Middleton is about to undergo a huge facelift thanks to a new regeneration project, including a new cinema and Metrolink tram station.
Middleton is one of many bustling communities that make up the borough of Rochdale, and with these new plans, the town might receive a fair few new visitors who want to know what it’s all about.
The Greater Manchester town is undergoing a huge transformation with regeneration plans confirming that Middleton will receive a brand new cinema complex along with an extended Metrolink line as part of the Bee Network expansion covering this area.
This is all thanks to Middleton teaming up with the Mayor to launch the Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC), which pushes forward regeneration plans for the town and future ideas.
Middleton Shopping Centre right in the heart of the town centre.Middleton Town Centre bustling as the markets take place.Credit: Steven Haslington (via Geograph)/@Rept0n1x (via Flickr)
The MDC considers lots of aspects of the town and even aims to create new homes and improve surrounding public spaces.
Middleton regeneration plans have been floated previously, but complications arose due to a lack of land and available funding, which ultimately brought these foundations to a halt.
Now it seems the green light has been lifted and Middleton is about to get a whole new facelift, which will not only improve the town economically but aesthetically too, along with the wider Rochdale region.
For many Middletonians, the idea of a cinema may have felt like a distant memory, with their last big screen location shutting down just over a decade ago.
This all-new high street regeneration will not only bring an array of shopping favourites back to the town centre but also the long-awaited return of a local cinema. Most importantly, the plans also include a slate of new housing, with an estimated 300 apartments set to be created in one building alone.
Early CGIs of the proposed Middleton regeneration plans.Grade II-listed Warwick Mill looks set to be turned into flats.Credit: Publicity Picture (supplied)
This all falls in line with the ‘Atom Valley scheme‘, which has been commissioned in order to generate over 20,000 job opportunities for people in Bury, Oldham and Rochdale.
The scheme also mentions how it aims to bring a combined economic boost of around £1 billion to these previously mentioned areas.
Rochdale Borough Council leader, Neil Emmott, said: “The development of 1.2 million square metres of employment space around the junction 19 area will help to generate 20,000 high-quality jobs and bring a £1 billion economic boost.”
Featured Image — Publicity Pictures (supplied via Rochdale Borough Council)
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Scouting For Girls announce stacked UK tour with Manchester date
Thomas Melia
British boyband Scouting For Girls are heading out on an extensive UK tour with dates up and down the country, including right here in Manchester.
If the first thing that pops into your mind when you read this headline is “I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know how we’ll make it through this”, then you’re on the right side of history.
Nearly 20 years since their single ‘She’s So Lovely’ reached catastrophic heights and had everyone putting on their best Roy Stride accent, Scouting For Girls are heading back on the road.
This UK tour announcement comes two years after their last project, The Place We Used To Meet, reached our ears and was coined by the band as “Our best work since our debut”.
It’s been 18 years since this Brit trio captivated our hearts with their eponymous debut album, which sold over one million copies and went number one on the UK official charts for two weeks.
Whether you know them for ‘Heartbeat’ or ‘Elvis Ain’t Dead’, it’s clear to say this band had their fair share of smash hit singles throughout the noughties.
This tour, however, celebrates the sophomore follow-up: Everybody Wants To Be On TV, which went on to continue their legacy and secure them their only number one, ‘This Ain’t A Love Song’, back in 2010.
Now, the boys are treating UK fans to an array of live performances, and if you can’t make one date, fear not because there are 20 different locations for you to choose from.
The group will also be playing the likes of Leeds, Sheffield, Newcastle and a whole host of other Northern cities, so you have plenty of chances to catch them.
If you can’t wait all the way until March 2026 for your next Scouting For Girls fix, lead singer Stride has his own cameo account where you can get the star to read out a message or even sing you a song: “‘Michaela Strachan’ in full, please?…”
Scouting For Girls are coming to O2 Apollo in Manchester on 21 March 2026, with tickets going on sale next Friday, 2 May at 10am HERE.
Emily Sergeant -
8th March 2022 
