‘Major congestion’ expected in Manchester on Saturday
Rail strikes are also planned for Saturday so those heading to the city will need to be prepared.
There could be “major congestion” on roads due to both “rail strikes and major events” taking place on the roads in the area, transport bosses have said, according to the BBC.
Saturday also marks the first day of the We Invented The Weekend festival which will take place in Salford.
The bank holiday might be over but the countdown to the We Invented the Weekend festival is ON! 🎉
Join us THIS WEEKEND at @MediaCityUK & #SalfordQuays for an unmissable FREE festival with 200+ activities. #MediaCity #Salford #WhatsOnMcr #freefestival #manchesterevents pic.twitter.com/5xRmoYUrsS[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]
— WeInventedTheWeekend (@WITWeekend) May 30, 2023[9]
More than 300,000 people are expected to attend concerts by three major music acts in Manchester from Wednesday to Sunday, Transport for Greater Manchester[10] (TfGM) told the BBC[11].
Coldplay[12] are performing at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, while Elton John is playing at the AO Arena on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
Arctic Monkeys are at Old Trafford Cricket Ground on Friday and Saturday, while the We Invented The Weekend festival is taking place at Salford Quays on Saturday and Sunday.
Manchester’s Transport for Greater Manchester[13] (TfGM) warned travellers that industrial action would be taking place on Friday and Saturday on the railways, with train timetables and operating hours thought to be “significantly affected”, reports the BBC.
❗ Due to rail strikes today, customers are advised not to travel by rail.
🚌 Bus and Metrolink services will be unaffected by the strike.
📲 Ensure you check your whole journey in advance – more info: https://t.co/LWRMclJhOR pic.twitter.com/E2K95oIfAp[14][15]
— Transport for Greater Manchester 🚲🚶🏾♀️ (@OfficialTfGM) May 31, 2023[16]
TfGM’s website will provide customers with access to “dedicated travel guidance” for each event, including “which routes and suggestions of alternatives”.
The Metrolink tram network will be the “quickest and most reliable way of travelling”.
The TfGM warned that congestion in the city centre and on the Inner Ring Road was expected throughout the weekend with motorists “strongly advised not to drive into the city centre”.
Those who had to drive into the city were encouraged to add significant additional time to journeys and to consider using a Metrolink[17] park and ride, according to the BBC.
Sean Dyball, TfGM’s head of customer experience, said it would be “one of the busiest periods of the year in Manchester”, with the “major congestion” expected on Saturday.
The customer information will frequently updated by TfGM throughout the weekend to ensure “informed journey choices, to save them time and avoid disruption to their journey”.
Meanwhile, many football supporters from the region will also be travelling to London to watch Manchester United play Manchester City at Wembley Stadium in the FA Cup Final on Saturday.
References
- ^ @MediaCityUK (twitter.com)
- ^ #SalfordQuays (twitter.com)
- ^ #MediaCity (twitter.com)
- ^ #Salford (twitter.com)
- ^ #WhatsOnMcr (twitter.com)
- ^ #freefestival (twitter.com)
- ^ #manchesterevents (twitter.com)
- ^ pic.twitter.com/5xRmoYUrsS (t.co)
- ^ May 30, 2023 (twitter.com)
- ^ Manchester (www.theoldhamtimes.co.uk)
- ^ the BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)
- ^ Coldplay (www.theboltonnews.co.uk)
- ^ Manchester (www.theoldhamtimes.co.uk)
- ^ https://t.co/LWRMclJhOR (t.co)
- ^ pic.twitter.com/E2K95oIfAp (t.co)
- ^ May 31, 2023 (twitter.com)
- ^ Metrolink (www.theboltonnews.co.uk)