WEEKS of traffic misery as a result of work on the guided busway finally forced transport bosses to hold an emergency meeting this week.

Representatives from Wigan Council, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and busway contractor Balfour Beatty insisted they were listening to residents and would do all they could to cut congestion and minimise disruption.

The meeting was called following continuing complaints from residents in Leigh, Tyldesley, Astley and Atherton who are incensed by continuing traffic chaos caused by the busway roadworks.

A Facebook page called ‘Enough is Enough, stop the Traffic Chaos in our area’ was set up just over a week ago and has already received hundreds of comments, while the Journal’s letters page continues to be filled with letters from disgruntled motorists.

Leigh MP Andy Burnham, who attended the meeting, said: "Our constituents are fair-minded but in recent weeks they have been saying 'enough is enough'.

"Traffic congestion has gone way beyond acceptable levels. It was a positive meeting and I can assure people that those in charge of the busway construction are fully aware of how strongly people feel. It is clear mistakes have been made and we received assurances they will not be repeated.

“Drivers are unlikely to see an improvement overnight but I am confident that we will get to a point disruption is more acceptable to the public.

“We have called a follow-up meeting next week and we will give people a further update after that.”

Commuters have moaned of two-hour delays and 10-minute journeys taking 45 minutes while one resident even posted a video of her daughter who was upset after receiving a late mark in school due to the ongoing traffic problems.

Terry Dunn, director of environment at Wigan Council, said: “I want the public to know we are listening to their concerns. I know there have been unacceptable traffic delays in Leigh, Tyldesley and Astley recently and I’d like to apologise for that.

“This is a huge construction project taking place in an area with an aging infrastructure. The reason we’re building the busway is because we want to improve and invest in that infrastructure.”

TfGM has agreed to look again at some of the plans for the work being carried out in the coming weeks and will again review with Wigan Council and Balfour Beatty the options for completing the works on Astley Street before the second meeting on Monday.

AS a result of Monday's meeting regarding the traffic problems caused by the ongoing busway works, TfGM, Wigan Council and Balfour Beatty agreed on the following:

  • No other non-busway road works to take place in the area except for emergency utility works needed to keep on gas, water and power supplies to homes.
  • A review of the plans to construct the busway and park and ride junctions on Astley Street in Tyldesley.
  • A review of temporary traffic management on the A580 to see if disruption can be reduced, including investigating whether some works can be rescheduled and carried out at weekends to minimise the impact on commuters.
  • Develop a single point of information for busway-related road works including improved coordination with the works in Salford.
  • Wigan Council said it will work with Salford Council to improve traffic flow around the Mosley Common/Boothstown junction on the East Lancs Road.
  • It has put in a right turning lane to ensure vehicles turning right do not stop vehicles turning left towards Manchester and ahead to Boothstown and has introduce new parking restrictions on Sale Lane in Tyldesley to help traffic flow smoothly towards the town centre.