The Great Ancoats Street scheme involved the installation of 21 new crossing points for pedestrians and people on bikes, improving safety for people moving between the city centre and neighbourhoods immediately to its north. A further 15 existing controlled crossings have also been revamped.
In a typical pre-pandemic weekday, Great Ancoats Street averaged more than 37,000 vehicle journeys and was crossed around 15,000 times.
63 new trees have been planted along the route, split among three species – Tulip Tree, Green Pillar and Regal Prince – with an additional eight Japanese white-flowering “Mount Fuji” Cherry trees also due to be planted at the junction of Great Ancoats Street with Helmet Street. These trees have been selected as an excellent fit for the street environment, with the right characteristics to thrive in an urban environment as they grow to maturity.
Wider, decluttered footways have been provided to benefit pedestrians and the road itself has received a new modern surface material, which will reduce the noise from passing vehicles by around 40 per cent.
The works extended from the junctions of Marshall Street and Cornell Street on Oldham Road, 150 metres north east of Great Ancoats Street, before joining the MSIRR and extending south-eastwards, to the eastbound Metrolink line close to Pollard Street.
The project has been completed as part of a wider package of measures to improve infrastructure across the city centre. A second round of public consultation on the proposed Northern & Eastern Gateway walking and cycling route, which will run parallel to Great Ancoats Street, is currently being undertaken, while work on the Northern Quarter walking and cycling scheme, which will provide a continuous link for people travelling on foot or by bike between Victoria and Piccadilly stations, is already underway.
