Star date: 1st December 2014

ROAD CLOSURES UNTIL SUMMER 2015 LEAVE RESIDENTS TRAPPED

"I'm a resident from Rockley Gardens and we are literally trapped..."

As two railway bridges in Oldfield Road in Ordsall and Broughton Road in Pendleton get closed for six months, the traffic has gone mad and residents feel trapped and in fear that emergency service vehicles are getting delayed.

Network Rail states that it will be opening Broughton Road again between 19th December and 5th January – just when everyone's off work. In the meantime it's chaos...

Full details here...

Network Rail has vowed to reopen Broughton Road during the Christmas period following complaints of unacceptable delays. Two railway bridges - on Oldfield Road in Ordsall and Broughton Road/Cromwell Road in Charlestown/Pendleton - are to be demolished and rebuilt with delays expected until next summer. 
 
"The bridge rebuild is an essential part of our £1billion investment in the railway in the north of England which will help to provide a more reliable and efficient service to passengers" said a spokesman for Network Rail.

"After discussions with the local authority the bridge will reopen on 19 December and close again on 5 January 2015, helping to relieve pressure on the surrounding roads over the Christmas period" he added "The work will then continue and the bridge will reopen fully in July 2015."

However, residents have reacted angrily to the plans with many fearing that emergency services could face significant delays. A motorist on Cheltenham Street, forced to drive around a concrete barrier which had appeared overnight to block the street from the direction of Frederick Road, said: "I'm a resident from Rockley Gardens and we are literally trapped. This whole thing is ridiculous."

Michelle Matley of Lower Kersal said: "Yesterday I saw a police van pass me heading down Broughton Road; it stopped at the diversion and turned around. A minute later an ambulance whizzed by and did the same thing. It's worrying if emergency services don't even know the road has been closed; shouldn't they have gotten a memo about this?"

Michelle, who has small children, added: "I think people should know what effect this is going to have. It's already causing a lot of disruption and we've got six months of it to look forward to."

A spokesperson for North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust (NWAS) said: "The service receives full notification from the relevant authority prior to the introduction of maintenance works, and we understand that works are essential.  

"Our staff are well trained and experienced emergency drivers, as well as being highly skilled medical personnel" he added "We work with our city council partners to negotiate road closures and avoid congested roads where possible."

In a statement to community leaders Salford Council denied responsibility for the disruption, stating: "The timing and extent of the works has been dictated by the need to complete over-rail works on a date determined by Network Rail. The cause of the problems are due to motorists not following the designated Diversion route, especially HGVs."
 
The statement, sent to members of the Salford East Community Committee, added that extra signs will be placed "asap" on Broad Street, Frederick Road, Lissadel Street, Seaford Road, Camp Street, Upper Camp Street, Great Clowes Street and on the traffic island on Cromwell Road.

Salford Council and Urban Vision refused to answer specific questions from Salford Star.

Words and photos by Ian O'Brien