Traffic chaos is on its way for hundreds of local commuters with major roadworks earmarked for Bury town centre.

Nine Bury streets and one road in Ramsbottom will be affected from the beginning of April, with some 3,700 metres of disintegrating sewers requiring immediate attention.

The proposed traffic restrictions and road closures are as follows:

STEPHEN STREET will be closed in sections to enable the construction of three manholes and sewer lining. Access only will be available from both Bolton Road and Ainsworth Road, and diversions will be in operation during closure. Work is expected to take three weeks.

BELBECK STREET will be closed in sections over a three-week period for the construction of two manholes and sewer lining. Access only will be from both Bolton Road and Ainsworth Road.

BOLTON ROAD: Lane restrictions will operate between Stephen Street and Buxton Street to allow the construction of three manholes and sewer lining. Two-way traffic will be maintained in single lanes. Work is expected to take three weeks to complete.

BELL LANE: Temporary traffic signals will be needed to maintain one-way traffic along Bell Lane. At the junction of Bell Lane with Parsonage Street, three-way traffic signals will be in operation. Five manholes are to be constructed and the sewer relined. A majority of the work will take place over eight weekends.

CHURCH STREET: Six manholes and 86 metres of new sewer will be constructed. Access only will be available from Bell Lane and St Paul's Street. Brick Street and Hughes Close are to remain open. Work is expected to take four weeks.

ST PAUL'S STREET: Restrictions will be in operation for two weeks to create a one-way flow of traffic during the construction of two manholes and sewer lining.

BIRCH STREET: Temporary traffic signals are to be introduced for two weeks as a manhole and sewer lining are constructed.

BROOK STREET will be closed between Taylor Street and Geoffrey Street to enable the construction of two manholes and sewer lining. Access to all premises will be maintained at all times with diversions in operation during closure. Work is expected to take seven weeks.

MOORGATE: The near side lane will be closed in Moorgate at its junction with The Rock. There will be no restrictions to present arrangements for traffic wishing to turn at the junction, and traffic signals will continue to operate as at present. A manhole cover slab close to a pedestrian island will be removed and the sewer beneath Moorgate and up to the junction with Bold Street will be lined. The manhole near the junction of Moorgate and Bold Street is also to be lined with works taking place over one weekend. All works are expected to be completed in three weeks.

STUBBINS LANE, FACTORY STREET and CROW LANE, RAMSBOTTOM: Temporary traffic signals to control one-way traffic flow will be in operation during the construction of one manhole, the removal of five manhole cover slabs and sewer lining. Traffic signals will only be allowed to operate at one location at any one time. Crow Lane will be closed from its junction with Factory Street to Athol Street and a diversion route will be in operation for 12 weeks.

Mr Mike Cannon, borough engineer, said: "The sewers identified as needing urgent repair are all in strategic locations, under main roads. Collapse or failure of these sewers would result in considerable disruption."

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