Notification of Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders (TTROs) in Trafford Park

Dear Recipient,

As you may know The Transport for Greater Manchester (Light Rapid Transit System) (Trafford Park Extension) Order 2016 (The Order) came into force on 24th November 2016. This Order gives Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) the legal powers to build and operate the new Trafford Park Metrolink Extension between Pomona and intu Trafford Centre. This new six stop route will offer fast, frequent connections to jobs, leisure, shopping and cultural destinations and across the wider Metrolink network.

The Order has also given TfGM the legal powers to make any Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders (TTROs) required to facilitate the works. Whilst this process is usually undertaken by the Highway Authority, TfGM have, for administrative reasons, elected to undertake the process. However, please note that any TTROs made by TfGM are being made with the prior agreement of the Highway Authority – Trafford Council.

The overall works will involve advance major utility diversions, the installation of 5.5km track and associated infrastructure, construction of the new Metrolink stops and the introduction of new highway arrangements to enable the tram to run segregated to road traffic. In order to facilitate the above, it is necessary to introduce phases of temporary changes to the way the existing highways in the area normally operate including major, but temporary, changes in direction of traffic. The initial phases of closures and changes to the local highways and footways are as follows:

*It is anticipated, that wherever possible , at least one of the roads listed above will remain open when others are temporarilly closed to facilitate local access. Local traffic diversion signing will be placed on site and maintained to identify these routes and stakeholders will be updated in advance of any temporary closures being implemented.

These temporary road changes are required and designed to complete the Metrolink works as efficiently as possible while maintaining access to businesses and stakeholders at all times. We apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused. This early notification is intended to enable you to plan and adapt your journeys before the temporary road closures are introduced.

Mitigation

Many of the changes will remain in place for approximately three years. This is to provide consistency for businesses, employees and visitors to the area, rather than frequently changing which roads are open and closed.

To maintain the flow of traffic while the changes are in place, TfGM will use a number of variable message signs around the wider Trafford highway network to provide advance warnings to highway users of the works, install several CCTV cameras to monitor the impact of the changes and undertake adjustments to traffic light sequences where necessary.

Further information

For more information and details of the highway closures and changes, please find linked below the Notices of Intent for the introduction of these TTROs and maps highlighting the closures, changes to highway and diversion routes for each phase.

Bus routes will be affected by these changes. Further information on potential changes to routes will be communicated in advance.

Click on each notice below:

17-0582 Mosley Road closure May 2017v3 (with bus diversions)

TPL 0005 PoD Notice side roads off VW

TPL 0006 - One Way Notice - Village Way

TPL 0007 PoD Notice VIC PL

TPL traffic management 19 June 2017

TPL traffic management 22 May 2017 (with bus diversions)

TPL0008 Notice - SAFW fw

TPL0009 PoD Notice Wharf End

TPL010 - 30MPH Notice - Park Way

Events

TfGM will be running a number of public information events in Trafford during the week commencing 8 May 2017, when the project team will be on hand to answer questions and provide further information on these required works.

Details of information events:

Sign up

We will provide project updates, travel advice and news updates through an electronic newsletter. To sign up for these please visit www.tfgm.com/MetrolinkTPL. To find updates through social media look for #MetrolinkTPL.

Contact the team

We will continue to work closely with Trafford Council, engage with stakeholders along the route and will provide more information as we progress with the scheme. To contact a member of our team email MetrolinkTPL@tfgm.com or call us on 0161 244 1555 (lines open during office hours).

Yours faithfully

Bethan Stanway

Trafford Park Line Communications Officer

Transport for Greater Manchester

Latest Road Closures and Road Works in Salford

There are ongoing roadworks on Trinity Way, with various traffic management measures in place. This is part of the Ordsall Chord project, which will see Manchester Victoria and Piccadilly rail stations connected together for the first time.

There will be a full closure of Chapel Street at the rail bridge, between New Bailey Street and Blackfriars, until Friday 28 April and customers should refer to our dedicated page for more information.

There will be multi-way signals on Eccles Old Road, at the junction with Sorrel Bank, until Thursday 30 November from 9.30am to 3.30pm weekdays and from 8am to 8pm on Saturdays for Salford City Council roadworks.

There will be temporary signals on Langworthy Road, at the junction with Wyville Drive, from 9.30am to 3.30pm weekdays and from 8am to 8pm on Saturdays until Thursday 30 November.

There will be temporary signals on Manchester Road, at the junction with Queens Street and Ellesmere Avenue, from 9.30am to 3.30pm weekdays and from 8am to 8pm on Saturdays until Thursday 30 November.

There will be temporary signals on Langworthy Road, at the junction with Charles Street and Greenbank Road, from 9.30am to 3.30pm weekdays and from 8am to 8pm on Saturdays until Thursday 30 November.

Walkden Road and Memorial Road are closed, between Park Road and Rushton Street, until Thursday 30 November from 9.30am to 3.30pm weekdays and from 8am to 8pm on Saturdays for Salford City Council works.

Please visit the Urban Vision website for details of major road improvement schemes in Salford.

Cycling cost saving is equivalent of an 8 per cent pay rise

Cycling rather than driving would save Scots up to £2,000 a year on shorter journeys, cycle developers Sustrans Scotland said today in the first research of its kind. It showed that lower running costs mean cyclists are quids in compared to motorists on journeys up to five miles - not to mention the health benefits.

That's the equivalent of a pay rise of more than 8 per cent pay for those on average salaries, the group said. Cyclists save £1,959 a year over that distance, and £2,013 on trips up to ten miles. The saving for those joining them would be £1,874, after the cost of buying a bike.

Please click here to read more

Sustrans launches fresh five year strategy

Sustrans has today launched a five year strategy outlining the charity’s priorities leading to 2022.

With 2017 marking the 40th anniversary of the pub-formed group Cyclebag, which latterly became the active travel development group, Sustrans outlines that the need to rebalance our transport priorities is stronger than ever.

Please click here to read the full article and the strategy document.

Commuters warned of strike-day disruption

Commuters are being warned to plan ahead and expect disruption on Friday (28 April) as staff on Northern rail services hold a one-day strike.

Most Northern services are not expected to run and any that do operate, working to a revised timetable, will be extremely busy.

All public transport and Greater Manchester’s roads are expected to be busier, especially at peak morning and evening times, with key commuter routes forecast to face the most pressure as people affected by the strike make alternative arrangements.

Numbers travelling will also likely increase as Friday marks the start of the May Bank Holiday weekend.

Transport for Greater Manchester, which is helping to co-ordinate the region’s response, is urging people to plan ahead and consider carefully their travel arrangements.

It is working to support Northern’s own customer communications effort and has created a special travel information page on its website to help keep Greater Manchester commuters on the move: tfgm.com/industrial-action.

TfGM’s Events and Operational Coordination Manager, John Fryer, said: “We are taking action to minimise the disruption to the transport network but we know there will still be problems.

“Commuters can play their part to minimise these and our advice is simple: plan ahead, be prepared, and think about all your travel choices.

“Can you travel at a different time or does your employer allow you to work from home? If you can travel at a quieter time, or in a different way – by bus, tram, bike, foot or a mixture – it can make a massive improvement not just to your journey but to people who simply don’t have a choice.”

As well as working with other transport authorities across the North, TfGM has taken action locally to help people who have to travel on the day of the strike.

As well as creating the travel information page, other TfGM actions include:
• Adding more capacity where it can to the Metrolink network
• Additional staff on Metrolink and at key bus stations to help commuters
• Publicising various park and ride sites to allow customers to complete their journeys by different transport options
• Working with bus and other train operators to maximise capacity across the network, particularly on the busiest commuter corridors
• Enhanced monitoring at its network control centre so traffic flows can be optimised by altering signal timing
• Working with local highway authorities to temporarily suspend roadworks where possible on the region’s main commuter routes

John added: “Our control room will open earlier and work later on the day of the strike and we’ll have additional customer service support on the phones and online to help people who have to travel, but our strongest advice is: expect disruption and plan ahead now.”

Metrolink Trafford Park Line – overnight works update local to the junction of Trafford Wharf Road & Warren Bruce Road

Dear Recipient,

As you may be aware, our contractor MPT started overnight works mid-March in the area of the junction of Trafford Wharf Road and Warren Bruce Road. I am writing to update you on these works and further planned works which will take place in this area.

As part of the enabling works for the project, utilities need to be diverted away from the future tram route. In the area of Trafford Wharf Road from Warren Bruce Road up to Elevator Road, BT need to lay ducting for the new telecom route, demolish old chambers and re-build new chambers with other similar utility diversions required. The required worksites for these diversion works will require the use of temporary traffic lights to maintain access for all road users.

These overnight works will start on Monday 24th April alongside the works our Metrolink contractor, MPT are presently undertaking to provide alternative access points for some Third Parties effected by the permanent works. Please note, there will be 8 hours of work carried out between the hours of 20:00 and 08:00. The works will generally be undertaken between Monday to Friday at night, however, weekend night working may be required.

Measures will be taken to minimise noise where possible and staff will be appropriately briefed before each shift.  Acoustic barriers will be erected locally around some of the noisier work activities to assist in reducing the noise levels.

Noise monitoring has taken place to measure the noise levels at MediaCity UK/Salford Quays whilst works were being carried out on Trafford Wharf Road. All readings have been below the threshold allowed for night-time working. We will continue to measure noise levels throughout the duration of the works to ensure acceptable levels are not breached.

These works have been consented to by Trafford Council until end of May 2017. Subject to further consents from the council, the works are due to continue for several months. We will write to you again to keep you updated of any major changes.

Day-time work on the new Metrolink Trafford Park Line project will increase in the coming weeks and we want to ensure that we are communicating any associated roadworks to everyone who travels to and through the area. If you have any family, friends, co-workers who you feel would benefit from being kept up to date with the project works, please forward the website details www.tfgm.com/MetrolinkTPL on to them where they can sign up to receive regular updates.

TfGM will continue to engage with stakeholders along the route and will provide further information as we progress. In the meantime, if you have any queries regarding the scheme or if you would like to arrange a meeting, please contact either me or a member of the Future Metrolink team on 0161 244 1555 or email MetrolinkTPL@tfgm.com  

To report urgent issues or incidents relating to this work, please call 0800 169 6150.  This number will be staffed 24 hours a day. 

Yours faithfully,

Bethan Stanway
Communications Officer

Transport for Greater Manchester