Road taped off in Manchester city centre after lorry crash causes travel chaos (2025)

The red HGV was pictured in the middle of the road

A road was taped off in Manchester city centre on Wednesday evening (April 2) following a crash involving a red lorry which caused chaos to public transport.

Princess Street was cordoned off by emergency services near to the Manchester Art Gallery and St Peter's Square. The large red HGV had reversed into scaffolding outside a building and become stuck in the middle of the road.

Police attended and taped off the area, while a number of police vehicles could be seen parked along the road as onlookers watched on.

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A number of bus services were impacted by the road closure, with a number of services lining the road. The Bee Network said stops along Princess Street were out of service, with the 35, 36, 37, 38, 50, 51, V1, V2 and V4 buses all impacted by the closure.

A post shared on X read: "So what the hell is going on in town?! All buses are stuck on cross street stopping the met from getting to St Peter's Square." Another posted: "Is the 50 on a diversion? Why are we on Peter St?"

Greater Manchester Police confirmed the lorry driver had reversed into scaffolding and that emergency crews were called to assist with the road closure.

An update shared by the Bee Network read: "Due to a lorry colliding with building scaffolding on Princess Street, services are on diversion.

"Services to Manchester will divert via King Street, York Street and New York Street. Services heading out of Manchester will divert via Oxford Street, Quay Street, Irwell Street and Trinity Way."

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