179 was one of the last batch of buses delivered new to Oldham Corporation, five dual-door Atlanteans with Roe bodies. A further five were delivered in early SELNEC days still in Oldham livery. Although in SELNEC ownership 179 is still in full Oldham livery including coats-of-arms.
The manoeuvre it is making was a fairly short-lived configuration of the junction which lasted whilst the bottom end of Lees Road was removed to complete the roundabout. For this period traffic approaching along Lees Road diverted on the new link road and round the part of the roundabout already constructed, ending up at a T-junction facing the bank.
The underpass is even less complete than on the previous shot, with shuttering still in place.
For those familiar with the bus service to Holts Estate in more recent times, it is worth mentioning that at this time it used to go up Lees Road and turn right at the Cross Street junction. A right turn there is no longer allowed and the service now continues up Bottom o’th Moor and turns into Cross Street there, a route taken since the roundabout was completed in 1970.
Behind the bus to the right is the premises of Midland Motors, featured in the next picture.
