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.
Manchester man jailed after sexually assaulting and masturbating in front of woman on train
Emily Sergeant
A man has been jailed after sexually assaulting and masturbating in front of a woman on board a train to Manchester.
Following an extensive British Transport Police (BTP) investigation, Nisan Fernando Kurukulasuriya, of Troutbeck Road in Altrincham, was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court last month.
At the trail last month, the court heard how, on Monday 20 April 2026, 39-year-old Kurukulasuriya was on a train from Stoke to Manchester and sat next to a woman he didn’t know, who was on the phone.
He then sexually assaulted her repeatedly, doing so again even after being pushed away by the woman.
The woman then noticed that Kurukulasuriya had exposed himself and was masturbating in front of her. She shouted at him, and in response, he stood up and ran away to leave the train – but the woman immediately got up to report the incident to staff.
When the train arrived at Manchester Piccadilly, the woman alerted a member of staff while Kurukulasuriya was stood only a few meters away, and BTP were subsequently called straight away.
Police quickly attended and arrested Kurukulasuriya.
When police interviewed him, Kurukulasuriya showed no remorse for his actions and refused to answer any questions put to him.
After pleading guilty to Sexual Assault and Outraging Public Decency at a previous court hearing, Kurukulasuriya was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment, and was also handed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) which will bar him from sitting next to any woman he doesn’t know on public transport, as well as being put on thensex offenders register for 10 years.
BTP Detective Sergeant, Mark Haviland, called Kurukulasuriya a ‘despicable man’ who targeted a woman travelling alone ‘for his own sick sexual gratification’.
Featured Image – BTP
News
GMP officer sentenced after hitting pedestrian during police chase in Rochdale
Emily Sergeant
A police officer has been sentenced this week after he struck and ‘seriously injured’ a pedestrian following a pursuit of a suspected drink driver in Rochdale.
35-year-old Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officer PC Sam Lockley pleaded guilty back in January 2026 following an Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation.
The IOPC investigation established that, in the early hours of the morning on 19 November 2023, PC Lockley was driving a marked police vehicle with the lights and sirens activated, and attempted to stop a suspected drunk driver on Drake Street in Rochdale.
A short pursuit that commenced but stopped merely a minute later after the police vehicle collided with a pedestrian on the footpath of Rochdale Road at approximately 3:30am.
The evidence gathered indicated that PC Lockley failed to slow down as he approached and drove through the red traffic lights at the Kingsway junction, and was travelling at a speed of 96mph in a 30mph zone.
The pedestrian suffered ‘serious injuries’ as a result of the collision, and received extensive medical treatment following.
At a hearing back in February of this year, PC Lockley received a two-year suspended sentence and was ordered to carry out 15 days community service, while also receiving two-year driving disqualification.
Also following the investigation, the IOPC decided that Lockley should face a gross misconduct hearing to face allegations that his manner of driving breached the police standards of professional behaviour.
“We continue to liaise with the force about disciplinary proceedings,” the IOPC concluded.
IOPC Director Amanda Rowe added: “My sympathies remain with the man, who sustained serious injuries, and all those affected by the incident.
“This was a complex investigation which relied on extensive amounts of data and expert analysis and the evidence showed PC Lockley drove at excessive speeds at night-time and although he was responding to a report of a suspected drink driver, it does not excuse his manner of driving.
“PC Lockley admitted he drove in a dangerous manner when he didn’t address hazards or warnings during the pursuit and ultimately by the time he saw the pedestrian, he was travelling too fast to avoid a collision.
“His actions that day have had long-lasting consequences and he has now been held accountable.”
Emily Sergeant -
8th March 2022 
