Driver advice for Parklife and other events in Manchester

National Highways is warning drivers that congestion is likely around the local motorway network around Manchester at key times over the weekend with the annual Parklife festival taking place at Heaton Park north of the city on Saturday and Sunday (8 and 9 June). There are also two major evening events at the new Co-op Live arena in east Manchester on Saturday (Eagles with the last of five nights at the venue) and Sunday (Pet Shop Boys).

Working alongside partners at Greater Manchester Police and Transport for Greater Manchester, National Highways has long-standing procedures in place to deal with traffic associated with events at Heaton Park and the annual Parklife festival. Some overnight roadworks have been suspended and the motorway network will be monitored around the clock via CCTV to clear any incidents as quickly as possible.  Extra patrols of National Highways traffic officers will also be stationed at key locations.

Congestion along the M60 is expected when concert goers are leaving Parklife each night from around 9pm onwards, potentially into the early hours.  As in previous years, the exit slip roads at junction 19 of the M60 for Middleton/Heaton Park will be closed between 7pm and 2am on Saturday and Sunday.   All queueing traffic for the event will be restricted to the clockwise exit slip road at Junction 20 at Blackley.

The motorway hard shoulder around junction 19 will also be closed off at times to prevent illegal use. Event goers are being reminded that it’s illegal as well as a safety hazard to use the motorway to drop off or pick up concert goers, hitch a lift or take a short cut with good arrangements in place off the motorway network for drop-offs and pick-ups on both days.

A comprehensive guide to travel options for all of the weekend’s events, including bus services and the established Parklife pick-up zone at Heaton Park Road Sainsbury’s, is available on Transport for Greater Manchester’s dedicated Parklife webpage:

National Highways provides live traffic information via its website, local and national radio travel bulletins, electronic road signs and mobile apps. Local X services are also available at @highwaysNWEST.

Providing they can do so safely, road users can also call the National Highways information line on 0300 123 5000 to keep up to date with road conditions.

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