City centre road closure to affect Metrolink

Transport bosses are warning Metrolink customers to expect disruption due to an unsafe building.

Mosley Street in the city centre has been closed to all traffic and pedestrians, and the following Metrolink services are affected:

• The Altrincham service is operating between Altrincham to Deansgate-Castlefield only.
• The Eccles service is operating between Eccles to Cornbrook via MediaCityUK only.
• The Manchester Airport service is operating between Manchester Airport to Firswood Only.
• The Ashton service is operating between Ashton to Piccadilly Station only.
• The Bury to Altrincham service is being diverted through Exchange Square.

Unaffected services:

• Bury to Piccadilly
• Rochdale to East Didsbury (2CC)
• Shaw to East Didsbury (2CC)

Rail tickets are being accepted between Deansgate-Castlefield and Piccadilly.

Danny Vaughan, Head of Metrolink, said: “The closure of Mosley Street has impacted Metrolink services through the city centre. We are running a reduced service on the Altrincham, Eccles, Ashton and Manchester Airport lines to ensure the safety of our customers.

“Mosley Street will remain closed until the building can be assessed, so we don’t yet know how long the disruption will last for. We are advising all customers to allow extra time for journeys while the road closure is in place, particularly those heading into the city tonight and over the weekend.

“We will update the Metrolink website when more information becomes available. Customers can also follow @MCRMetrolink on Twitter for regular updates.

“We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause, but unfortunately the road closure is beyond our control and customer safety is our utmost priority.”

More information is also available on by calling Metrolink Customer Services on 0161 205 2000.

Summer cycling: how not to arrive at work a sweaty mess

Summer is finally here and with it, hopefully, some sunshine. It’s hard to beat the feeling of gliding along with the sun shining down but when you’re headed to work it can come with its challenges.

No one wants to arrive at work sweaty and rumpled (your colleagues probably won’t love it if you’ve spent your commute trying to conquer a Strava segment either).

But help is at hand, just follow our super simple tips and you'll stay cool and collected this summer.

Click here to read the full article from Sustrans...

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.