REGENT ROAD: Ordsall Lane junction set to reopen as roadwork scheme reaches next stage
Other lane closures will be lifted over the festive period.
Drivers who've been caught up in the queue chaos caused by the Regent Road roadworks in Manchester city centre are being offered some relief, as the council announces some lane closures are being lifted.
The partial closure of the junction with Ordsall Lane is set to be removed tomorrow, as engineers prepare to start work on the next stage of the Manchester-Salford Inner Relief Route improvement scheme.
Work will then progress to the Oldfield Road junction in January.
Work will continue at Ordsall Lane into the new year, but can be carried out without road closures until the road is resurfaced at the final stage.
The £15m scheme, which began in August 2018, is set for completion in summer 2019 and will see six major junctions along Regent Road significantly enhanced - increasing their capacity by up to 20%., reducing congestion and boosting local air quality, while also ensuring a better route for pedestrians and cyclists.
Following the introduction of Saturday working in November, contractors are now on site for six days a week, a pattern which will continue through until the project is completed. As previously announced in October, works are set to finish at least one month ahead of the original twelve-month timescale, with the project team collaborating with contractors Dawnus to rephase elements of the scheme where possible.
More than 20,000 hours of work have been put into the scheme to date and engineers will continue to review all elements, to ensure the work is completed as quickly as possible, while also ensuring public safety.
From the evening of Friday 21 December, work will shut down for two weeks as key suppliers are closed for business.
During this period, lane closures will be lifted on the inbound and outbound sides of Regent Road and outbound on the Mancunian Way, with the remaining traffic management measures maintained for safety reasons and inspected daily ahead of work resuming on Monday 7 January.
The lane closures which will be temporarily lifted during the festive period are:-
Mancunian Way outbound (to just east of Water Street)
Regent Road outbound (west of Water St to Oldfield Road)
Regent Road inbound (Oldfield Road to Water St)
Manchester City Council’s Executive Member for the Environment, Planning and Transport, Councillor Angeliki Stogia, said: “Good progress is being made with the vital scheme to enhance the key junctions along Regent Road for all road users. Once completed, these works will bring significant and lasting improvements to a major traffic pinch point - cutting congestion, improving air quality and providing cyclists and pedestrians with a better experience.
“As is true of all major roadwork projects, there's no way to deliver these improvements without causing an impact in the short term, but we're working hard with Salford City Council and Transport for Greater Manchester to minimise disruption, provide advice to motorists, offer alternative travel options and ensure that the work is done in as timely and safe a manner as possible.
“It’s possible for motorists to reduce or even avoid impact on their journeys by planning ahead and we urge people to check for the latest TfGM advice before setting off.”