THE Manchester Metrolink have completed the first phase in the £350 million plan to bring a new tram stop to the Trafford Centre.
A new temporary road layout has been revealed at Peel Circle, and roadworks have been removed around Trafford Park to allow travellers to easily gain access to the Trafford Centre during the busy Christmas season.
The construction began in 2016 after Greater Manchester transport was given permission to build by the Secretary of State for transport, Chris Grayling. The line is expected to launch to the public in 2020.
Once the new line is finished, it will be 5.5km long and will include six new stops starting from the existing stop, Pomona, which you can see in the map below.
Councillor Andrew Fender, Chair of the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee said: “Construction of the Trafford Park line is progressing at quite a pace.
“However, we have purposely scheduled our work to help visitors and businesses close to intu Trafford Centre at this busy time of year. We’ve opened newly-constructed lanes and removed temporary traffic lights in the immediate area.”
[pullquote]“It’s going to be new, frequent and convenient travel option for our 30 million annual visitors and 8000 retail colleagues.”[/pullquote]
The metrolink service are hoping to offer a sustainable transport service for many and hope to provide an efficient alternative to travelling by car. They are also hoping to provide transport to those who work around the Trafford Centre, in areas around Trafford Park industrial estate, which is currently lacking in transport facilities.
The Trafford Park line will bring an improvement in connection across Manchester, with the number of stations increasing to 93 by 2020. The renovation will allow access to a number of new locations such as Event City, the Imperial War Museum and of course, the Trafford Centre.
Alison Niven, the regional centre director for the Trafford Centre said: “It’s going to be new, frequent and convenient travel option for our 30 million annual visitors and 8000 retail colleagues.”
Here’s what Nishaan Singh, 22 and Yusuf Azmi, 25 who work at the Trafford Centre had to say about the updates.
But how will these updates effect the city centre? Phil Yates, 56, who works at Marks and Spencers in the city centre said: “I do think it will take away plenty of retail custom from Manchester.
“It will definitely reduce the sales in Manchester shops in the city centre.”
The next phase of the build will take place in January of 2018 and is expected to effect the motorways surrounding the Trafford Centre.
For more information about the build visit the website here.
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