Ring road revamp to start at month end
The £15m Manchester Salford Inner Relief Road improvement scheme is to start on 29 August, with works expected to last for a year at six key junctions.
Greater Manchester Combined Authority signed off on the project, which is supported by the Local Growth Fund, in June. During the works Regent Road, from Oldfield Road to the Mancunian Way, will be reduced from two lanes to one lane in each direction. Journey times are expected to increase significantly, especially during the morning and evening peaks.
To help people get around during the work, Transport for Greater Manchester has launched a bespoke MSIRR travel advice page that will provide up-to-date travel information, expected journey times and alternative travel options.
Where possible, road users are advised to plan ahead, look for alternative routes, travel outside of peak times and consider public transport options. Further information on park and ride schemes will be released this week.
The work is expected to cause delays on other nearby corridors including the M602 and Mancunian Way, while surrounding routes – such as Chester Road, Princess Road, A580 East Lancs Road, Trinity Way, Hyde Road, Stockport Road and Ashton Old Road – will likely be much busier than usual.
During the morning peak, travel into the city centre via the M602, Regent Road and on to the Mancunian Way is expected to increase from around 15-20 minutes to at least 25-30 minutes.
During the evening peak, journeys out of the city centre along the Mancunian Way, Regent Road and onto the M602 are expected to increase from around 20-25 minutes to at least 40-45 minutes.
Work will start at the following junctions in and around Regent Road on 29 August:
- The junction of Dawson Street, Regent Road, Trinity Way and Water Street.
- The junction of Regent Road and Ordsall Lane.
- The junction of Regent Road and Oldfield Road.
- The Mancunian Way, A56, A5067 roundabout.
- The junction of Trinity Way and Hampson Street.
- The junction of Hampson Street, East Ordsall Lane and Middlewood Street.
The project will ultimately increase capacity at the six key junctions by up to 20%, reducing congestion and delays, TfGM said.
TfGM said it will be working with local councils to offer support for road users and venues and destinations along the route with up-to-date travel advice throughout the works.
More information about the scheme is available on the Manchester City Council website.
Looks like I’ll be avoiding the city centre then.
By BenG
Its bizarre that 6 relatively small packages will take so long and obviously cause issues elsewhere on the two cities of Salford and Manchester.
Critical path issues aside, what are the plans to assist people who actually live on the route whilst the upgrades are being carried out.
By Anonymous
it’ll cause kaos !!
By Anonymous
Are there any graphics of what the completed works will look like?
I hope it’s a significant improvement because it’s going to be a frustrating 12 months.
By ?
Add at least 1 hour to the ‘additional time’ caused
By Anon
Surely phasing each of the six junctions will minimise the impact this will cause, although extend the programme of works. Also wouldn’t it have been more beneficial to start the works at the beginning of the school summer holidays rather than the week before all schools are back? Amateurish planning from the councils.
By Anonymous
Road users are advised to consider public transport options – like that’s a viable option given the state of Northern Rail…
By The Streets
I’m all for progress, but, talk about agenda? Live in the west and commute into the City Centre by car….we are really paying for the NO vote on the Congestion Charge IMO.
“plan ahead, look for alternative routes” yeah right. The only option appears to be “travel outside of peak times” as “considering public transport options” doesn’t seem to be working now, never mind when we are all forced off the roads.
By Hobson's Choice