Mancunian Way hole: MP calls for round-the-clock

A Manchester MP has said round-the-clock work is needed to fill a huge hole that appeared in a flood-damaged city road.

Graham Stringer, Labour MP for Blackley, said the repairs needs to be stepped up at Mancunian Way.

Heavy rainfall was blamed for the collapse which has closed the road since 14 August.

Tony Griffiths, of United Utilities, said the company was doing everything it could to reopen the road.

About two weeks' worth of rain fell in about six hours in Manchester before the hole appeared.

Repairs to the 15ft (4.5m) wide hole are being carried out by United Utilities and Manchester City Council.

Mr Stringer, who also represents Broughton, said: "What I've been saying to United Utilities is 'we need to get a move on.'

"The inner relief route in Manchester city centre is a major economic artery for the whole of Greater Manchester."

He said the congestion had been awful and was "bound to affect businesses and jobs".

But Mr Griffiths, a wastewater network manager, said the company's main priority was the health and safety of workers: "We do appreciate it is frustrating to motorists with so many of the key routes in the city centre being subjected to road works."

"However, there is a limit to what one can expect of the operatives working on the job - we have working time directives and we need to be mindful that fatigue doesn't set in."