Roads and transport Main Roadworks

Alan Turing Way northbound closure and repair work

The northbound side of Alan Turing Way is currently closed between Ashton Old Road and Grey Mare Lane while we carry out important repair work.

In late March 2026, a large void was found underneath the road. For safety, the northbound lanes including the cycle lane were closed, and diversions were put in place.

Initial investigations assumed that this had happened due to a utility failure. However further investigations by specialist engineering consultants found an unrecorded old mine shaft underneath the road. The shaft is around 3 metres wide and approximately 50 metres deep.

It is important to note that the source of the damage is very isolated to the road (on Alan Turing Way), there is no risk of further surface collapse and damage to surrounding properties and area.

How we will repair the road

The proposed repair works will be carried out in four main phases.

Phase 1: Making the mine shaft safe - Completed (Early October)

Work started to stabilise the mine shaft on 17 September, following an intense programme of ground investigations. More than 100 tonnes of grout will be pumped into the mine shaft and surrounding ground. Grout is a cement-based material that is pumped into underground voids to fill gaps, stabilise the ground, and reduce the risk of further movement

Phase 2: Reinforced Concrete Slab (Capping the mine shaft) - Ongoing

This phase of work started on 12 October 2026 and will include the building of a large reinforced concrete slab over the mine shaft. This will provide a strong and secure barrier over the shaft.

Phase 3: Add Lightweight Concrete Fill

Once the reinforced concrete slab has been installed, a layer of lightweight concrete will be added to provide extra strength and help spread the weight evenly. The area will then be backfilled.

Phase 4: Filling the void

We will then carefully fill the remaining space underneath the road.
This work needs to be completed in stages because there are several important utility cables and services in the area. These include water, telecommunications and internet infrastructure, this work must be carried out in carefully planned phases.

We will work closely with the utility providers to protect these services throughout the repair works. In some cases, water and telecommunications companies will also need to carry out work to their own equipment and infrastructure to support the repairs and ensure the continued reliability of their services.

Phase 5: Rebuilding and reopening the road

When the underground repairs are complete, we will rebuild the affected section of Alan Turing Way.

Once the road is safe and the work has been completed, we will reopen the northbound carriageway.

When will work take place?

Work will usually take place from Monday to Saturday.

We currently expect the works to be completed by mid-December. However, this may be subject to change due to bad weather conditions or any issues that arise during the course of the work.

See an infographic for the work, with a plain text explainer

Keeping you updated

We will update this page as the work progresses, including any changes to the programme or expected reopening date.

We will also share important updates on our social media channels.

If you have a question or concern about the work, please email roadsafety@manchester.gov.uk

We understand that the closure and diversion may cause delays and inconvenience.

Thank you for your patience while we carry out this complex and important work.