New  figures show a dramatic drop in the number of cars using the road after ‘Dutch-style’ cycle lanes have been introduced along with changed traffic priorities – taking drivers onto alternative routes – so that buses can operate more efficiently and punctually, enhancing services for thousands of passengers daily.



A new ‘bus gate’ starting at Hathersage Road means that general traffic heading into the city via Oxford Road has fallen from 5,000 cars to fewer than 250 paving the way for quicker bus services, better cycle facilities and cleaner and safer public spaces.

The bus gate came into force in September and although a new concept for Greater Manchester another one has been in operation on Portland Street since March.

Along with the 95% drop in general traffic on Oxford Road, recently completed work between Hathersage Road and Booth Street has seen a whole new road surface laid, pedestrian improvements made, more cycle lanes added and the reconfiguration of several key junctions meaning additional changes for general traffic.

While the majority of drivers are now using alternative routes like Upper Brook Street, transport bosses are urging everyone to start to familiarise themselves with the final scheme now – before it’s all finished. A new map is available which shows how traffic will operate once the full scheme is complete early next year.

Councillor Andrew Fender, Chair of the TfGM Committee, said: “There have been a lot of changes to city centre road layouts for people to get used to and I want to thank everyone for how well they have adapted and contributed to the success of the transformation so far. Anyone around this section of Oxford Road can’t fail to have noticed how different it is now.

“We’ve designed new routes in and out of the city via the parallel Upper Brook Street and late last year we made a section of Princess Street two-way to make it easy for drivers to still get to where they need to go.

“There’s never been a better time to get to know new routes and we’re now encouraging drivers to start to familiarise themselves with how the final scheme will work so that they’re prepared before the full change kicks in.”

Working closely with key partners along the Oxford Road corridor will not only result in a scheme that benefits thousands of bus passengers but also provide improved access to key health, education and leisure facilities such as the Central Manchester Hospital sites, the University Of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University.

Diana Hampson, Director of Estates and Facilities at the University of Manchester, said: “Oxford Road is home to some of the best higher education facilities in the country and we want our students, staff and visitors to enjoy the best possible experience when they come to the campus.

“The University of Manchester has been working with TfGM for over four years and has been involved in the scheme’s design from the beginning.

“It’s enabled us to influence the proposals and to shape the scheme into something that also benefits us so I’m really looking forward to seeing how people react to it when it’s complete.

“Many of our staff and students cycle to the campus and many others travel by bus, and there are obvious benefits for them. We welcome a boulevard that’s quieter, more attractive and generally a lot cleaner.”

The changes to Oxford Road are part of the biggest investment into Greater Manchester’s bus network in decades, the bus priority package. The scheme has already seen the introduction of the North West’s first guided busway, bus priority measures along the East Lancs Road and significant changes to Portland Street and Princess Street.

While the bulk of the change for general traffic has been focused on the section of Oxford Road between Hathersage Road and Booth Street, the final scheme will see the bus gate extend further up the corridor to Grosvenor Street. This mile long section will guarantee better bus services along one of Europe’s busiest bus routes while ensuring safer cycle and pedestrian facilities for hundreds of thousands each year.

Monitored by Manchester City Council using number plate recognition cameras, bus gates are used to restrict general traffic access beyond a single point in the road so that buses can operate more efficiently and punctually beyond them. Since it became operational it has meant that general traffic heading into the city has been required to turn right at Hathersage Road between 6am and 9pm, 7 days-a-week.

The final piece in the scheme’s jigsaw, Oxford Road, will mark the culmination of over four years of work when it’s completed in early 2017. Completion will also herald a major milestone in the progress of the transformational Grow project. Grow will see more than £1 billion invested into city centre infrastructure improvements by 2017, including the Metrolink Second City Crossing, bus priority measures, six new and better cycle routes into the city centre and major rail improvements.

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