GRIDLOCK shows no signs of easing in Radcliffe after bosses at United Utilities admitted Church Street West will not re-open on schedule — and could stay closed for several more weeks into the summer.

The water company has confessed work on the sewer project – which has caused the town centre road to be shut from last July – is “not progressing smoothly”.

Frustrated residents have faced traffic chaos since Church Street West was blocked off, with a diversion through Blackburn Street and Spring Lane causing delays of up to an hour at busy times.

With the road inaccessible for motorists and a large compound erected in front of shops, business owners are also furious at the loss of trade.

Now United Utilities has admitted delays have meant Church Street West will not be ready to open in March — their original forecast date.

In an additional blow, Dale Street will be closed for three weeks from Monday, February 9, for a sewer manhole, which is said to be in poor condition, to be rebuilt.

The Church Street West diversion route will be extended along Pilkington Way for the duration of the Dale Street closure.

A spokesman for United Utilities said construction of the underground chamber affecting Church Street West had been delayed because the site team had met with “difficult ground conditions” on the river embankment.

She added: “This led to additional stabilisation work being needed and, although the team are working extended hours, the completion date is expected to be delayed now.”

Bosses said a precise new re-opening date for Church Street West could not be given at this stage, but they would have a “better understanding of the new timescales” in the next six weeks.

The £1.7 million United Utilities project to build a new overflow sewer screening chamber was initially expected to begin at the end of April 2014, but the start was delayed.

Bury Council leaders, including Cllr Tony Isherwood, cabinet member for the environment, last year put pressure on United Utilities to re-open the road before Christmas, but this was not possible.

Cllr Isherwood, who represents Radcliffe West, said: “I find it very disappointing United Utilities have not been able to complete the project within the timescale they initially gave.

“These traffic delays are having a huge impact on trade in the town and people’s day-to-day lives.”

United Utilities project co-ordinator, John Byron, said: “It is very frustrating that we have been plagued with so many issues on this project.

“Unfortunately, engineering work on this scale and in such a built-up area involving old infrastructure can flush out all kinds of unforeseen problems.

“We are doing our best to keep disruption to a minimum so we are planning to carry out the Dale Street work around the half-term holiday.”

Michael Hardman, manager of Mad Mix E-Cigarettes in Church Street West, said customers have dropped from about 30 per day to five or six per day and his whole business had declined.

He said: “Since July last year, my business has not grown, it has shrunk, and the compensation of £50 to £80-a-week United Utilities has offered is a pittance.

“Businesses have not been kept informed of what is going on by United Utilities.

“To say the team is working extended hours is a lie. They had two weeks off at Christmas, they do not work weekends and they are gone by the time I leave the shop in the evenings.”

Eugene O’Donnell, chairman of the newly-formed Radcliffe Town Team, which represents the interests of traders in the town, said fewer and fewer people were venturing into Radcliffe town centre.

He added: “Our worry is when you lose customers it takes a long time to get them back again, so we are just so desperate to get this road open again.

“The closure of Dale Street means two entrances into the town centre will be blocked, which is a complete nightmare. It is so unfortunate they will both be going on at the same time.”