When the Bridgewater Viaduct closes for pavement widening expect even worse congestion
The Rangers match on Thursday and Confidential witnessed two police motorbikes charging down the Deansgate cycle lane because they couldn't get along the packed carriageway. They halted at the Liverpool Road junction and attempted to create some order out of chaos.
Deansgate is not only a nightmare on matchdays. We were assurred by the council that the pre-Christmas problems were caused by seasonal traffic. That is not the case. Everybody knew it wouldn't be the case, recent week evenings with no events taking place have been just as bad. It's a shocking situation and one that is making businesses, residents and visitors all suffer. It's a massive own-goal, a disincentive to visit the city centre unless you live within close walking distance of reliable public transport.
And now it's about to get worse.
The closure is planned to be in place for two weeks, extendable up to four weeks dependent on weather or if other unavoidable issues arise
This part of the Council press release.
'A temporary closure of a small section of the Bridgewater Viaduct (A56) is scheduled for Monday, January 27th. The closure of the southbound carriageway – travelling out of Manchester - is planned to provide work crews a safe environment to carry out the widening of the pavement around the viaduct. A diversion will be in place for those leaving the city centre, going along Whitworth Street West/Albion Street/Medlock Street.
The northbound carriageway – travelling into the city centre - will remain in use for motorists and cyclists.'
This means that the only way out of the south west of the city centre will be along Medlock Street and Princess Parkway. That's one way out.
The Council say: 'The closure is planned to be in place for two weeks, extendable up to four weeks dependent on weather or if other unavoidable issues arise.'
Anybody taking odds?
The Council also assures us: 'Steps will be put in place to manage traffic around busy periods to keep delays to a minimum.'
Just how though? How can they minimise disruption to the economic and leisure life of the city centre especially when they are the ones creating it?
