Oldham town centre roads set to reopen after building collapse 2026

Key Points

• Oldham Council has confirmed that King Street will re-open from Monday, October 26, 2026, having been closed following the collapse of a building in March.
• The A62 Oldham Way bypass will also be partially re-opened on the same day with one lane in each direction open between 6 am and 9 pm.
• The overnight closure of Oldham Way will continue until November 13 for contractors to carry out the necessary barrier work.
• From November 13, depending on how things are progressing on site, it is expected that one lane in each direction will remain open throughout the night.
• It is expected that both lanes in each direction will re-open by mid-December 2026, thus enabling the full re-opening of the bypass.
• Work is to continue at the roundabout and under the bypass structure until the end of February 2027.
• King Street was closed after part of 31 King Street collapsed at about 12.40 pm on March 24, 2026.
• The damaged building has since been demolished, however the road will remain closed due to safety issues arising from the neighbouring property of 29 King Street.

Oldham (Manchester Mirror) October 23, 2026 — King Street in Oldham town centre is set to reopen from Monday, October 26, while the A62 Oldham Way bypass will begin a phased reopening on the same day, according to Oldham Council.

As reported by The Oldham Times, the council confirmed that King Street will reopen from Monday after remaining closed since March, when part of a building fell into the road. The announcement also sets out a timetable for the partial and full reopening of Oldham Way, although further work will continue into December and early 2027.

The council said work would continue with the owners of the buildings involved to address outstanding measures needed to deal with longer-term issues. It also thanked residents, businesses and road users for their patience while safety and repair works continue across the town-centre route.

Why Has King Street Been Closed Since March?

King Street has been closed since March 24, 2026, when part of 31 King Street collapsed shortly after 12.40pm. As reported by The Oldham Times, debris fell into the street and prompted a major emergency response.

The building was understood to have housed Euro King Mini Market, with residential accommodation above. ITV News reported that the collapse occurred just after midday and that police and fire crews attended the King Street area, with a large cordon put in place.

The damaged building was later demolished, but King Street remained closed because of safety concerns around the neighbouring property at 29 King Street. In a statement reported by The Oldham Times in July, Oldham Council said “insurance and liability issues” had delayed the street’s reopening and that it was continuing to press the owners of both properties to resolve the outstanding matters.

What Has Caused the Oldham Way Delay?

Oldham Council said problems between the contractor and its sub-contractors had caused the safety barrier work to take longer than planned, affecting the timetable for the full reopening of Oldham Way.

From Monday, October 26, one lane will be available in each direction between 6am and 9pm each day. Overnight closures will remain in place until November 13 while contractors complete essential safety barrier work.

Subject to progress on site, one lane in each direction should be open 24 hours a day from November 13. Both lanes in each direction are expected to reopen from mid-December 2026, allowing the bypass to fully reopen.

What Work Is Being Carried Out on Oldham Way?

The bypass forms part of a £6.5 million refurbishment of the Manchester Street Viaduct, which carries the A62 Oldham Way over Manchester Street. The council has described the structure, which dates from the late 1970s, as being in a “poor and deteriorating condition” because of its age.

The project includes concrete repairs, waterproofing, replacement expansion joints, parapet refurbishment and resurfacing. Work at the roundabout and underneath the bypass structure is due to be completed by the end of February 2027.

The council said the measures were needed to complete important safety and repair work across the town-centre route.

What Happened During the Building Collapse?

The collapse occurred on March 24, 2026, when part of 31 King Street fell into the road shortly after 12.40pm. The BBC reported that Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said three fire engines from different locations were dispatched to the incident involving a collapsed building on King Street.

ITV News reported that five people were injured in the collapse. The Oldham Times later reported that three people were injured and that the incident also damaged a bus stop. The differing injury figures reflect the information available in the immediate aftermath and subsequent reporting; this article does not seek to reconcile them beyond attributing each account to its source.

The Manchester Evening News reported that bystanders outside and at a nearby bus stop had to evacuate quickly as bricks and debris fell. It also reported that a surveyor had said the building was in “no immediate danger” 23 days before the collapse.

Was the Collapsed Building Demolished?

Yes. The damaged building at 31 King Street was later demolished. The Manchester Evening News reported that demolition operations began on April 1, and that approximately 40 residents were evacuated from nearby buildings following the collapse.

The Oldham Times reported that barriers remained in place after demolition because of issues connected with the neighbouring property at 29 King Street. The council said it remained committed to working with all relevant parties to bring the matter to a resolution and enable the safe reopening of the road as soon as possible.

Has the Cause of the Collapse Been Established?

No public confirmation of the cause has been reported. The Oldham Times reported that an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive into the cause of the collapse was still ongoing when the latest detailed reports were published at the end of July.

The Oldham Reporter also reported that the HSE investigation remained ongoing. Oldham Council has not been reported as having announced a concluded cause or findings from that investigation.

Background of the Development

The closure began on March 24, 2026, after part of 31 King Street collapsed onto the road. Transport for Greater Manchester’s live travel information recorded an alert from March 24 stating that, because of the collapsed building, bus services were diverted and might depart from a different stand at Oldham Bus Station.

The closure affected residents, businesses, commuters and traffic through Oldham town centre. In July, The Oldham Times reported that King Street remained shut four months after the collapse, with bus services continuing to be diverted via Manchester Street and Oldham Way in both directions.

The council subsequently said insurance and liability issues had delayed the reopening, while it continued to press the owners of 31 King Street and 29 King Street to resolve outstanding matters. The reopening announcement now provides dates for both the street and the adjacent A62 bypass, although further works remain scheduled beyond the initial reopening.

Prediction: How Will This Affect Oldham Residents and Businesses?

For commuters and road users, the reopening of King Street and the daytime partial reopening of Oldham Way from October 26 should reduce some of the disruption caused by the long-running closures. However, overnight closures until November 13 mean drivers should still expect continued restrictions while safety barrier work is completed.

For businesses in the town centre, the return of through traffic may improve access and visibility, particularly for premises affected by diverted bus routes and reduced footfall during the closure period. The council’s confirmation of a phased timetable may also help businesses and residents plan around the remaining works.

For public transport users, the reopening could reduce reliance on the diversions that have been in place since March, although the reported timetable indicates that full reopening of Oldham Way is not expected until mid-December, with associated viaduct works continuing until February 2027. Residents and drivers should therefore treat the announced dates as dependent on on-site progress, particularly the barrier works and the completion of outstanding safety measures.