Key Points
- Repairs to the Portland Street water leak are expected to continue over the weekend and also into next Monday, says Manchester City Council.
- The leaking water main has been traced and fixed, says About Manchester.
- Work is now concentrating on fixing the damaged road surface in preparation for reopening the street.
- Portland Street and Piccadilly Gardens bus station have been closed since Wednesday, 28 October.
- “United Utilities said the burst required several days of work before completion,” it said in a statement.
- According to Transport for Greater Manchester, bus services serving Piccadilly Gardens will be unable to do so; 29 services will be affected.
- Tickets will be accepted by Metrolink services between Victoria and Piccadilly and Northern Rail services between Deansgate and Piccadilly.
- “United Utilities stated that customers’ water supplies had not been affected,” said the utility company.
Bolton (Manchester Mirror) October 30, 2026 — Repairs to a burst water main that closed Portland Street in Manchester city centre will continue over the weekend and into Monday, Manchester City Council has confirmed. The road has remained shut since the leak was discovered on Wednesday, 28 October, with Piccadilly Gardens bus station also closed while emergency work continues.
As reported by About Manchester, the council said the burst water main has now been located and repaired. Work will now begin to repair the damaged surface of the road so that it can be reopened as soon as possible.
Why Is Portland Street Closed?
Portland Street was closed on Wednesday, 28 October, after a water leak was identified in the city centre. Transport for Greater Manchester said the leak was causing significant disruption and that both Portland Street and Piccadilly Gardens would remain closed until further notice while the pipe was repaired.
As reported by The Manc, water could be seen pouring down Portland Street, while a large crack was visible in the road surface. The outlet said Piccadilly Gardens, described as Manchester’s main hub for bus connections, had been closed until repair work on the burst pipe was complete.
United Utilities said its teams were on site working to isolate the damaged main and complete repairs as quickly as possible. The company said customer water supplies had not been affected.
How Long Will the Repairs Take?
Manchester City Council has now said the work will continue over the weekend and into Monday. About Manchester reported that the council confirmed the repair programme would extend beyond the initial emergency response, although no exact reopening time has been published.
United Utilities had previously warned that the extent of the damage meant repairs and road reinstatement would take several days. As reported by the BBC, a United Utilities spokesperson said:
“Due to the damage caused by the burst, it is likely that repairs and road reinstatement will take several days to complete.”
The company also apologised for the inconvenience and said it would continue repairing the main as quickly as possible. It said it was working with Transport for Greater Manchester and Manchester City Council to manage disruption and reopen the road once it was safe.
Which Bus Services Are Affected?
Transport for Greater Manchester said buses cannot operate through Portland Street or from Piccadilly Gardens while the closure remains in place. Its travel update listed 29 affected services: 15, 18, 30, 33, 38, 41, 42, 42A, 42B, 42C, 43, 50, 85, 85A, 86, 87, 101, 103, 111, 142, 143, 191, 197, 250, 255, 256, 263, Free Bus 1 and Free Bus 2.
Transport for Greater Manchester said diversion routes are in place for the affected services. It also advised passengers to check its website or the Bee Network app for the latest travel information.
As reported by the BBC, passengers have been directed to alternative bus stops while Piccadilly Gardens bus station remains shut. Transport for Greater Manchester said it was working with Manchester City Council and United Utilities to resolve the issue.
What Travel Alternatives Are Available?
Transport for Greater Manchester confirmed that ticket acceptance is in place for bus ticket holders on Metrolink services between Victoria and Piccadilly, and on Northern rail services between Deansgate and Piccadilly.
The transport authority also said Metrolink replacement buses travelling away from the city centre would divert from their usual route via Portland Street. They will travel via Whitworth Street and Aytoun Street, then turn onto Auburn Street, London Road and Fairfield Street.
Transport for Greater Manchester’s customer service teams and TravelSafe Support and Enforcement Officers have been deployed in the city centre to help passengers find alternative services.
What Have Authorities Said?
As reported by the Manchester Evening News, Alison Chew, Network Director for Bus at Transport for Greater Manchester, said Portland Street buses in the city centre were being rerouted because of the water main issue. She said both Portland Street and Piccadilly Gardens bus station would remain closed until further notice while utility companies carried out emergency repairs.
Transport for Greater Manchester said in its update that disruption to Bee Network services was expected to continue into the evening as work to repair the burst water main continued. It said Portland Street and Piccadilly Gardens bus station remained closed to all traffic, with diversions operating on several city centre routes.
United Utilities said it was working closely with Greater Manchester Police, Transport for Greater Manchester and Manchester City Council to minimise disruption and reopen the road as soon as possible.
Has the Water Supply Been Affected?
No. United Utilities said customer water supplies have not been affected by the burst main on Portland Street. The company said its priority was to isolate the damaged section, repair it and make the road safe before the closures could be lifted.
The BBC reported that United Utilities crews worked through the night to locate the burst while attempting to maintain water supplies to nearby customers.
Background of the Development
The disruption began on Wednesday, 28 October, when a water leak on Portland Street led to the closure of the road and Piccadilly Gardens bus station. Transport for Greater Manchester issued an alert at 9.24am that day, saying services were unable to serve Piccadilly Gardens because of the water leak.
United Utilities later confirmed that a burst water main had caused damage to the road, requiring both pipe repairs and surface reinstatement. The company said the work was likely to take several days, while Transport for Greater Manchester introduced diversions for dozens of bus services.
By Friday, 30 October, Manchester City Council said the burst main had been located and repaired, but that work on the damaged road surface would continue over the weekend and into Monday.
Prediction: How This Will Affect Commuters and Businesses
Commuters using Portland Street or Piccadilly Gardens should expect continued disruption into Monday, particularly during morning and evening peak periods. Bus passengers may need extra journey time, alternative stops and potentially different routes, as 29 services remain diverted.
Businesses near Portland Street and Piccadilly Gardens may see reduced footfall while the road and bus station remain closed. Retail, hospitality and office-based workers in the area could also face longer journeys, especially those who normally rely on buses serving Piccadilly Gardens.
Passengers should monitor live travel updates and the Bee Network app before travelling, as reopening arrangements may change once the road surface repairs are completed and safety checks are finished.
