As construction of Prestwich’s new travel hub builds momentum there will be some temporary disruption along Fairfax Road in Prestwich.
From Monday 13 October 2025 until July 2026, a short stretch of Fairfax Road between Heys Road and just after Rectory Lane will be closed off in both directions from 7am Monday to 5pm Friday. The road will fully reopen at weekends (from 5pm Friday until 7am Monday).
Pedestrian access will be maintained throughout, with a signed diversion underneath the tramline off Rectory Lane. A formal vehicle diversion will also be in place and clearly signposted.
Diversion Route
We’ve recently submitted the necessary legal paperwork to Bury Council for a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TTRO), which allows us to close the road. The order is valid until October 2026; however, this does not mean the road will be closed for the entire duration. It simply provides flexibility in case of unforeseen delays. We’re hopeful that we can complete the work by July 2026 and we will be regularly keeping people updated as the work progresses.
There will be several weekends during the closure that the road will not reopen Friday to Monday, with the first planned in November. This is to carry out associated utility works on Fairfax Road by the entrance to the site. Further information will be communicated in advance.
Visitors to the Longfield Centre will still be able to access the Longfield Centre car park from Rectory Lane off St Mary’s Road, which will remain open. There will also be no disruption to service yard deliveries.
Why is the closure necessary?
We are entering a critical phase of construction which will see large quantities of heavy steel and other materials being transported to site.
The temporary closure is a vital health and safety measure to keep local people safe when large vehicles delivering heavy steel and other materials come to site. The team have worked closely with Bury Council’s highways department to find the best solution to allow the travel hub to be delivered in the safest and most cost-effective way possible to enable future phases of the regeneration plans to come forward. Traffic flows will be actively monitored, and additional measures will be put in place if required.
After considering a number of alternatives, we selected the option that offers the highest level of safety while delivering best value for the project. To ensure that the disruption is minimised, we have developed a practical gated solution that allows the road to be fully reopened at the weekend.
Emergency services have been advised in advance so they can factor the closure into their routes. We have also discussed this with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) who have made several changes to their routes which you can find on their website. During weekends, bus routes will run as normal.
Enabling Transformation
This temporary disruption is an essential step in delivering the vision for Prestwich’s regeneration. The travel hub will provide a new, modern parking solution for the village, including electric vehicle charging points and accessible bays, alongside extensive cycle storage.
Completion of the travel hub paves the way for the redevelopment of the Longfield Centre, which will be transformed into a new village centre, with a new library, retail units, a new market, community spaces, attractive green public areas, and new homes.
Hugh Taylor, senior project director at Muse, said:
“We’re entering into a critical phase of the travel hub construction with regular large deliveries being made to site. Undertaking major construction work in a built-up area was always going to be challenging and we considered a number of alternatives, but ultimately this solution is not only the safest but also provides best value for the project and community. In line with our commitment to minimise disruption, we have developed a practical gated solution that allows the road to be fully open at the weekend.”
Councillor Eamonn O’Brien, Leader of Bury Council, said:
“We’re another step closer to delivering on our promise to the people of Prestwich and creating a new beating heart for the village. We recognise that the weekday closure to Fairfax Road will cause inconvenience, but it’s absolutely essential to enable us to deliver the travel hub safely, quickly and cost-effectively. Whilst the road is advertised to close for nine months, we’re really hopeful that the work can be completed much quicker than this and we’ll be doing everything we can to complete it as soon as possible. We will keep you regularly updated as the work progresses.
“Our priority is to complete the travel hub so we can start delivering the wider regeneration plans, which will benefit the local community for generations to come. I’d like to thank the community for their ongoing patience as we work towards making this transformational project a reality.”
FAQs
How long will the closure be in place?
The closure will run from Monday 13 October until July 2026. We will be regularly communicating with people throughout this period, and we’ll be working hard to minimise disruption where we can.
Why does Fairfax Road need to close?
We are entering a critical phase of construction which will see large quantities of heavy steel and other materials being transported to site.
The temporary closure is a vital health and safety measure to keep local people safe. The team have worked closely with Bury Council’s highways department to find the best solution to allow the travel hub to be delivered in the safest and most cost-effective way possible to enable future phases of the regeneration plans to come forward.
The Temporary Traffic Regulation Order says the road will re-open in October, is this true?
We recently submitted the relevant legal paperwork to Bury Council to enable us to close the road, called a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TTRO). This states that the order will be in place until October 2025, however please note, this doesn’t mean the road will be closed for this duration. This is just to provide flexibility in case of any unforeseen delays. We’re hopeful that we can complete the work by July 2026 and we will be regularly keeping people updated as the work progresses.
Could the materials be transported in smaller quantities to lessen the disruption?
No, this period of work requires delivery of large steelwork that can only be transported by using specialist vehicles. By closing this small stretch of road, it allows us to transport these materials more efficiently through less vehicle journeys, which also helps us reduce impact on the environment and our carbon footprint.
Why has this diversion route been chosen?
We’ve chosen this route to avoid traffic passing through residential roads and instead maintain the flow of traffic through main roads. Traffic flows will be actively monitored, and additional measures will be put in place if required.
How will you be mitigating disruption to bus routes around the village?
We have been working closely with TfGM to inform them about the closure to give them enough notice to amend their routes during the week. You can find these changes on their website. At weekends, bus routes will operate as normal.
Will the road be open at weekends when no work will be taking place?
We have developed a practical gated solution that allows the road to be fully reopened at the weekend from 5pm Friday to 7am Monday morning. Outside of these times the road must remain closed.
There will several weekends during the closure that the road will not reopen Friday to Monday, with the first planned in November. This is to carry out associated utility works on Fairfax Road by the entrance to the site. Further information will be communicated in advance.
Will pedestrian access be maintained?
Yes. While Fairfax Road will be closed off. A signed diversion will be in place underneath the tramline off Rectory Lane, providing access to the Longfield Centre and the wider village centre.
I live on Highfield Road. Will I still be able to access Bury New Road from Fairfax Road?
Yes, the entrance to Highfield Road from Fairfax Road will be open as usual.
How will businesses be impacted?
Service yard deliveries into the Longfield Centre and access to the car park via St Mary’s Road of Rectory Lane will remain open. We are continuing to engage with existing Longfield Centre tenants regarding the development of the wider regeneration of the village.
Was there another way you could have carried out the work without closing the road?
After considering a number of alternatives, we selected the option that offers the highest level of safety while delivering best value for the project. To ensure that the disruption is only during the week, we have developed a practical gated solution that allows the road to be fully reopened at the weekend.