TRAFFIC MISERY AHEAD AS MANCUNIAN WAY TO BE CLOSED FOR MAINTENANCE THIS WEEKEND

A heads-up if you are heading into town in the car this weekend, one of the main arterial routes into the city centre is to close for maintenance.

The Mancunian Way will be closed this weekend so that scheduled maintenance work can be carried out.

The closure, which takes place annually, will allow essential work to take place to keep the bridge safe for road users.

The work will include safety inspections, road repairs, lighting inspections, street sweeping drainage and general work to improve any defects. The overall integrity of the structure will also be assessed.

Given the accidents which have taken place on the road in recent months it is essential that these works can take place to ensure the continued safety of motorists.

The closure will be in place from 5am on Saturday, 12 March until 7pm on Sunday, 13 March.

During the closure, Manchester United will face Spurs at 5.30pm on Saturday, while events take place at the AO Arena on both Saturday and Sunday evening, and the Irish Parade proceeds down Cheetham Hill Road on Sunday lunchtime.

Eighty-six thousand 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.

Signed diversions will be in place for the duration of the closure, however to avoid being caught in the congestion, it's important to plan ahead and familiarise yourself with the recommended diversion routes.

For journeys through the city centre, especially for west to east and east to west trips, we recommend using the M60.

Those attending the United fixture are strongly encouraged to use public transport but if you have no alternative but to drive, we strongly dissuade travelling through the city centre. Fans should use the M60 and then travel to the ground via junctions 7 and 9.

For travel guidance during this closure, visit the TfGM dedicated travel advice page at https://www.tfgm.com/major-works-and-events/highways/mancunian-way-closure