Essential track replacement work between two key tram stops in Manchester city centre is nearly two thirds complete, with the final phase due to start next week.
Work between Piccadilly Station and Piccadilly Gardens is being carried out in three phases as part of a major £147m investment in the network up to 2027.
It is vitally important the older tracks are replaced to keep the network safe, reliable and accessible, with around 300 tram movements through this section of track in each direction every day.
The project is the largest in a coordinated series of track renewals to ensure the Bee Network’s trams continue to go from strength to strength – building on one of the strongest post-Covid recoveries in the UK, which last year saw the network reach record-breaking journey numbers.
Once work at Piccadilly Gardens and Portland Street is finished (set for 17 July), work will move to the junction of Aytoun Street and Auburn Street between 19 July and 10 August.
Traffic management measures will be in place on Aytoun Street (where the tram lines cross the road) and on some surrounding streets during this phase of the works, including a section of Aytoun Street will be closed to all highway users.
A signed diversion route will be in place along Minshull Street, Portland Street, Piccadilly, Gore Street, and Chatham Street.
The “bus and taxi only” lanes on Portland Street will be temporarily suspended eastbound towards Newton Street so all traffic will be able to use that stretch of road while the works are carried out.
Chatham Street will be temporarily made two-way, with the ‘no entry’ from Piccadilly lifted for the duration of the works. This will form part of the overall diversion and maintain local access to premises on Aytoun Street.
Additionally, to allow local access to Aytoun Street, temporary two-way traffic access will be allowed on parts of Aytoun Street and Auburn Street where there is usually only one way access.
Danny Vaughan, Chief Network Officer at Transport for Greater Manchester, said: “Work is progressing well on this major piece of our coordinated package of track replacement works and we thank everyone for their patience while these upgrades are carried out.
“Metrolink forms a key part of the Bee Network and is the largest light rail network in the country- with our trams carrying 46 million passenger journeys last year alone – playing a vital role in supporting growth and connecting people to jobs, education and leisure opportunities.
“With more people leaving the car at home and getting on board the Bee Network, it’s important we continually invest in the network to keep it safe, reliable and accessible for years to come.
Essential engineering works will also take place at Pomona and on the Eccles line between Saturday 2 and Sunday 10 August. During this time, no tram service will operate on the Eccles via MediaCityUK line or between Cornbrook and Wharfside, meaning services on the Trafford Park line will only operate between Wharfside and the Trafford Centre. A bus replacement service will operate between Eccles and Piccadilly via Wharfside during the closure, serving all the affected stops.
