Stevenson Square next up in pedestrianisation drive

Fresh proposals for a Manchester HS2 station could eliminate the need for one of the second phases of the rapid-rail network - the part connecting Birmingham and Leeds - saving billions of pounds and unlocking development sites, its proponents say. 

The city council met the deadline to submit a funding bid for cycling and walking interventions, but faced criticism over its refusal to provide pop-up bike lanes and other ‘active transport’ elements as neighbouring boroughs did.

Friday will see the deadline for cities across the UK to submit their bids to the £250m Emergency Active Travel Fund, supporting ‘bold’ and ‘speedy’ action to create pop-up infrastructure for cycling and walking, writes Steve Connor, chief executive of Creative Concern. 

After its decision to part-pedestrianise Deansgate, the council has taken another step towards making the city more pedestrian friendly by closing off the Northern Quarter street to cars from this Saturday. 

Manchester City Council will use the lockdown easing to find more ways to encourage walking and cycling across the city, according to council leader Sir Richard Leese.

The region's design experts have praised Manchester City Council for pedestrianising part of Deansgate, and said they hope it could trigger other schemes to improve connectivity by prioritising walking and cycling.

Manchester City Council has launched the search for contractors to bid for a £40m roads framework, largely within the city centre but also across the wider city region.

The light rail networks that serve Liverpool and Greater Manchester city regions may have to suspend operations as severely reduced passenger numbers hit revenues, metro mayors Steve Rotheram and Andy Burnham said. 

The airport will operate from a single terminal in the face of reduced passenger numbers.