Major roadworks underway on Regent Road linking Manchester and Salford
The work - which gets underway today - is set to last for the next 12 months.
Major roadworks are underway on one of the busiest roads between Manchester city centre and Salford and will go on for a whole year.
Regent Road is down to one lane between the Regent Retail Park and the Chester Road roundabout at Mancunian Way.
Transport bosses are warning travel times are set to double in and around the area.
Measures are being put in place to reduce congestion but transport bosses are asking commuters to think about their journeys, especially during rush hour.
Once completed the works will increase capacity at six key road junctions along what is known as the Manchester-Salford Inner Relief Route by up to 20 per cent – significantly reducing congestion and delays and improving air quality. It will also help to futureproof the inner relief road by ensuring it can cope with more new jobs and economic growth in the two cities, avoiding the need for future works.
The work will also improve these junctions for cyclists and pedestrians through upgraded crossing facilities.
Manchester City Council says there is no way to do this without there being an impact on journey times for drivers while works take place.
Motorists on or around this route are advised to allow extra time for journeys, especially at peak times. You can minimise or avoid disruption by using alternative routes or modes of transport - or planning to travel outside peak periods - where possible.
The improvement works, which are being carried out jointly by Manchester City Council and Salford City Council, are scheduled to last up to 12 months and are funded by Government’s Local Growth Fund. The scheme has been agreed a Greater Manchester priority for reducing congestion.
The first phase of the work will deliver improvements at four junctions:
The junction of Dawson Street, Regent Road, Trinity Way and Water Street (Manchester)
The junction of Regent Road and Ordsall Lane (Salford)
The junction of Regent Road and Oldfield Street (Salford)
The junction of the Mancunian Way, the A56 (Chester Road) and the A5607 roundabout (Manchester)
A further phase, once works to these first four junctions has finished, will deliver improvements to another two junctions:
The junction of Trinity Way and Hampson Street (Salford)
The junction of Hampson Street, East Ordsall Lane and Middlewood Street (Salford)
During the works, Regent Road will reduced from two lanes to one lane in each direction. Longer journey times are expected on Regent Road and nearby corridors including the M602 and Mancunian Way. Surrounding routes such as Chester Road, Princess Road, A580 East Lancs Road, Trinity Way, Hyde Road, Stockport Road and Ashton Old Road are also expected to be busier.
To help people get around during the work, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has launched a bespoke MSIRR travel advice page that will provide up-to-date travel information, expected journey times and alternative travel options.
During the morning peak, travel into the city centre via the M602, Regent Road and on to the Mancunian Way is expected to increase from around 15-20mins to at least 25-30mins.
During the evening peak, journeys out of the city centre along the Mancunian Way, Regent Road and on to the M602 are expected to increase from around 20-25mins to at least 40-45mins.
There are a number of Park and Ride sites across Greater Manchester that provide free and convenient access to both bus and tram services. Further details of the available Park and Ride sites will be made available in the coming days.
Drivers should consider using public transport where it’s an option – or cycle or walk if they are able to do so. Where possible, working from home could be considered
Councillor Angeliki Stogia, Executive Member for Environment, Planning and Transport for Manchester City Council, said: “These works will deliver real and lasting improvements to this busy route which will benefit drivers, cyclists and pedestrians alike.
“There is unfortunately no way to deliver such major works without them involving some measure of frustration and inconvenience for drivers in the short term. We’d encourage people to plan ahead where possible to minimise, or even avoid, impact on their journeys.
“But this scheme is specifically designed to reduce congestion and delays once completed, helping people get around quicker. That is why we and Salford City Council are working together to grasp the nettle now.”
Councillor Roger Jones from Salford City Council said: “It is important that these works take place to make it easier for people to travel between the two cities.
“Unfortunately there is no quick and easy way to do this so there will be road works and extra congestions while the improvements take place.
“We’d like to apologise for this but the aim of the works is to make a positive difference to journey times in the long-term.”
For more detailed travel advice relating to the works visit www.tfgm.com/regent-road
For more information about the works visit www.manchester.gov.uk/msi