Greater Manchester's Bee Network project aims to make it easier for everyone to get around by:
- Providing better public transport
- Creating more facilities for cyclists and pedestrians
- Improving roads and public highways
- More about the Bee Network
Manchester Road improvements and roadworks
The major roadworks on Manchester Road between Castleton and Rochdale town centre are part of the Greater Manchester Bee Network project and will be carried out in 2 phases.
The works aim to make it safer and easier to get around, boost public health, and upgrade public spaces while reducing traffic and flood risks.
Work we've done
Phase 1: began in September 2022 and was finished in January 2025.
We made improvements to Manchester Road from Castleton Railway Station to The Royal Toby Hotel including:
- New footpaths
- New segregated cycle lanes
- New crossing points
- New car parks
- A new community play park on land opposite Nixon Street
Next steps
Phase 2: began in March 2025 and is expected to be completed by 2027.
Phase 2 will see improvements made to Manchester Road from its junction with Dane Street and The Esplanade to The Royal Toby Hotel, including:
- New landscaping, planting and opportunities for people to help plant landscaped areas
- Improved footpaths and cycle lanes
- New crossings at major junctions
- Road re-surfacing
- Traffic calming measures on quiet streets to improve the safety and experience of all road users
- New benches and seating
- Replacing the New Barn Lane subway with a new road crossing
- View these improvements on a map
Road closures and delays
From 10 March 2025, work along Manchester Road will take place from 7:30am-5pm, Monday to Friday.
- One side of the road will stay open, and temporary traffic lights will manage the flow of traffic.
- If we need to close any part of the road completely, we'll do it overnight and put up signs to let you know in advance.
- We aren't planning on carrying out any work at weekends, but if we need to we'll put up signs to let you know in advance.
- Pedestrians will be able to pass the works safely at all times.
We'll try to keep delays to a minimum as much as possible. Thank you for your patience.
Schedule of work
To keep disruptions to a minimum, the work to complete phase 2 will be carried out in stages.
We aim to follow this schedule:
- March 2025-August 2025: roadworks will be carried out between The Royal Toby Hotel and Silk Street. There will also be work at the junction of Manchester Road and Tweedale Street.
- August 2025- March 2026: roadworks will be carried out from the junction of Manchester Road, Silk Street and Bolton Road to the junction of Manchester Road, Roch Valley Way and Edinburgh Way. This includes improvements to the road crossing that connects the Tesco site to Montgomery Street.
- March 2026-August 2026: roadworks will be carried out from the junction of Manchester Road and New Barn Lane to the junction of Manchester Road and Tweedale Street. This also includes the area in front of Highfield Hospital.
- August 2026-January 2027: roadworks will be carried out from the junction of Manchester Road and Drake Street to the junction of Manchester Road and The Esplanade.
- Additional works will be carried out on 3 ‘Quiet Street’ routes that run alongside the main road. These works won't affect the main road traffic, and you'll still be able to get to all nearby properties during the work.
- View the schedule of work on a map
Get in touch
If you have any enquiries or feedback related to these roadworks you can get in touch by:
- Email: info@BeeNetworkCTR.co.uk
- Phone: 0808 281 8597
We'll be available to monitor our email inbox and answer your phone calls 9am-5pm, Monday-Friday. We'll not be available on bank holidays.
Report an out-of-hours emergency
If you need to speak to us urgently and it is outside of our office hours, you can get in touch by phoning 07896 064 711.