Spectators are being urged to arrive early to avoid missing the Olympic Torch arriving in Bury on Saturday (23 June).
The council is advising people to use public transport to get into Bury for the big day or, if driving, to get parked early because the car parks are expected to be full by 1pm.
Many thousands of people are expected to line the eight-mile route as the torch passes through Bury, Whitefield and Prestwich. A variety of entertainment and events has also been lined up on the day to get families into the Olympic spirit.
The Torch will travel in either convoy mode, where the torch is carried inside a vehicle and is not in view, or by a torchbearer in full view. In Bury itself, torchbearers will carry the flame from Rochdale Road at its junction with Heywood Street all the way down The Rock and Haymarket Street, past the town hall and onto Manchester Road just past its junction with Gigg Lane and from the junction of Manchester Road with Sunnybank Road to the Salford boundary on Bury Old Road.
Ian Lord, Bury Council’s traffic manager, said: “We are doing everything possible to advise people where they can watch the torch and there will be plenty of signage along the route. According to feedback from other councils who have already welcomed the torch the crowds are far larger than expected, exceeding 35,000 in some towns in the North West. For this reason we would strongly urge people to use public transport. We are expecting that the car parks will be up to capacity by lunchtime. We welcome everyone to come along and watch this moment in history, just plan your journey and arrive in plenty of time.”
Promotional vehicles will arrive approximately 30-60 minutes ahead of the Olympic Torch, and provide activities and entertainment and distribute keepsakes from the left hand side of the road.
The main convoy itself will be in two parts, approximately six minutes apart. Spectators are asked to anticipate this, as in some areas people have left before the actual torch convoy has arrived.
