Driver advice for Manchester’s big weekend of events

Music and football lovers heading to events across Manchester are being encouraged to spend some extra time planning their journeys ahead of one of the busiest weekends of the summer.

National Highways is warning drivers congestion is likely around the local motorway network around Manchester at key times over the weekend.

The events include a performance by local heroes The Courteeners at Heaton Park on Friday (9 June), followed by the annual Parklife event at the same venue over the weekend.

East Manchester will host Canadian singer-songwriter The Weeknd at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, and former Pink Floyd musician Roger Waters will take to the stage at the AO Arena.

Rounding off the weekend, Old Trafford will host Soccer Aid on Sunday.

Furthermore, large crowds are expected in Manchester city centre on Saturday night, with Manchester City’s Champions League Final with Inter Milan being screened in pubs, sports bars, and Depot Mayfield.

“With our partners at Greater Manchester Police and Transport for Greater Manchester, we have long-standing procedures in place to manage event-related traffic,” said Chris Chadwick, Senior Network Planner for National Highways in the North West.

Chadwick added that some overnight roadworks have been suspended, and the authorities will be working around the clock to monitor the motorway network and respond swiftly to any incidents.

In anticipation of traffic congestion during the event-packed weekend, particularly around 9pm each night when concert-goers leave Parklife, National Highways has taken precautionary measures.

The exit slip roads at Junction 19 of the M60 for Middleton/Heaton Park will be closed between 7pm and 2am on Saturday and Sunday. All queueing traffic for the event will be diverted to the clockwise exit slip road at Junction 20 at Blackley.

In a final reminder, Chadwick stressed that using the motorway for dropping off or picking up concert-goers, hitching a lift, or taking a shortcut is both illegal and a safety hazard.

A comprehensive guide to travel options, including bus services and the established Parklife pick-up zone at Heaton Park Road Sainsbury’s, is available on the Transport for Greater Manchester website.

For real-time traffic information, people can refer to National Highways’ website, local and national radio travel bulletins, electronic road signs, mobile apps, and their local Twitter service at @highwaysNWEST.

As the city prepares for a big weekend of entertainment, attendees are advised to plan their journeys to and from these events carefully, checking for any congestion or incidents before setting off.