TRANSPORT for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has welcomed confirmation of the first tranche of a major long-term deal with the Government that will pump more than £350m into Greater Manchester’s transport network over the next five years.
Meaningful transport investment is a cornerstone of achieving Greater Manchester’s exciting ambitions.
The Deputy Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Nick Clegg MP, today announced that, as part of Greater Manchester’s wider Growth Deal package, it has been successful in securing £50 million of transport investment from the Local Growth Fund (LGF) for 2015/16.
It is the first part of a longer-term deal with Greater Manchester that will result in more than £350 million invested in 12 major transport schemes between 2015/16 and 2020/21, including new transport interchanges, new roads, new bus priority measures and more trams for Metrolink.
Greater Manchester is already set to receive £110 million of Local Transport Block money (agreed in December 2013) and, under the deal announced today, an additional £154 million of LGF money will be provided between 2016/17 and 2020/21.
This funding unlocks a further £37 million of local match-funding over the same period, and supports hundreds of millions of pounds worth of wider economic regeneration across a number of key centres in Greater Manchester.
Councillor Andrew Fender, Chair of the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee, said: “The success of our bid to government is testament to the compelling case we put forward and a clear symbol of just how important a healthy Greater Manchester economy now is to the nation as a whole.
“We have the fastest growing economy outside London and, having built up to that over time, it is now essential for us to sustain that position.
“With that comes the significant challenge of making sure our road and public transport networks have the capacity to support the accompanying, and ever-increasing, travel demands both now and long into the future.
“That’s why meaningful transport investment is a cornerstone of achieving Greater Manchester’s exciting ambitions. It is a crucial part of the jigsaw and I am delighted that the government has reaffirmed that so emphatically today."
The Metrolink Deansgate/Castlefield Station under construction
Planned projects in Greater Manchester
South Heywood M62 J19 Link Road
A new link road from M62 junction 19 to unlock access to existing and planned employment sites, including the Heywood Distribution Park/Simplified Planning Zone, and future housing and employment development in the South Heywood area. The scheme involves the construction of a 1km link road between the M62 Junction 19 and the Hareshill Road/Manchester Road junction, a tie-in to the M62 at Junction 19, works to the Manchester Road junction, and widening and upgrading of Hareshill Road. The new link road is fully endorsed and supported by the Highway Agency who, as part of their Pinch Point Programme, will be delivering improvements to the M62J19 junction. The scheme will involve improvements to the roundabout and its connecting slip roads, which will provide better access to Heywood Distribution Park, as well as reducing congestion and improving journey time reliability on the M62 and M66 as a result. Budget earmarked (subject to final scheme approval): Circa £19.5 million.
Wigan A49 Link Road
A vitally important strategic link providing a connection from the J25 of the M6 motorway network to Wigan Town Centre and strategic sites, which will act as a catalyst for further economic development and growth. A new 2.5km Link Road to complete a dual carriageway link between J25 of the M6 and the southern part of Wigan Town Centre. The scheme provides a new high profile gateway into Wigan town centre from the M6 and links a new employment site, Westwood Park to the strategic highway network. From a new roundabout junction with Warrington Road at Goose Green, the dual carriageway road follows the route of the old railway line to Westwood Park and the town centre. Budget earmarked (subject to final scheme approval): Circa £25 million.
Salford Central Rail Station
Improved passenger facilities and additional platforms to maximise the benefit of Northern Hub investment and serving increased demand in a key regeneration area of the Regional Centre. The three additional platforms will establish the station as an important element in the north of England’s refreshed rail infrastructure. The project is designed to double the number of trains able to stop at the station to accommodate growing passenger numbers and improve access to the expanding commercial districts of Manchester and Salford. The improved station will accommodate services on the existing rail network and also those using the proposed Ordsall Chord. In particular the platforms will enable trains from Liverpool, Leeds and Manchester Airport to stop at the station. Budget earmarked (subject to final scheme approval): Circa £20.5 million.
City Centre Transport Strategy – Inner Relief Route improvements
Regent Road Major re-configuration at the western gateway to the Regional Centre to reduce delays on the most congested point of the Inner Relief Route, thus improving journey time reliability. The Regent Road–Water Street junction is the most congested pinch point on the Manchester and Salford Inner Relief Route (MSIRR). It has been identified as a key constraint to all potential transport packages and strategies for road-traffic to, from, and within Manchester City Centre. The aim of the scheme is to reduce the impact of congestion at the junction on its approaches and at adjacent junctions with a focus on improving capacity on the six main movements whilst also enhancing the performance of the wider MSIRR. This will include the adjacent junctions of Trinity Way/Irwell Street and Chapel Road and the merge from Chester Road roundabout which also suffer severe levels of congestion. Addressing traffic conditions at these locations will be essential to ensure that congestion does not constrain economic growth including plans for significant development in the surrounding area. Budget earmarked (subject to final scheme approval): Circa £15 million.
Wigan M58 Link Road
A new link from Junction 26 of the M6 (with the M58 and A577) into west Wigan and Wigan town centre from the M58 and assist in the delivery of a major employment site, Pemberton Park. The proposal is for a delivery of a new 2km single carriageway link road between the eastern roundabout of Junction 26 of the M6 (with the M58 and A577) and the A571 Billinge Road / Foundry Lane junction. This would provide an alternative link into west Wigan and Wigan town centre from the M58 and assist in the delivery of a major employment site, Pemberton Park. The scheme will play a strategic role in reducing congestion along parallel routes, in particular the A577 Orrell/Ormskirk Road and also support development proposals in Wigan South Central. Budget earmarked (subject to final scheme approval): Circa £12.7 million.
City Centre Transport Strategy – Inner Relief Route Improvement
Great Ancoats Street scheme to facilitate development and reduce congestion around eastern section of the Regional Centre’s Inner Relief Route. The project comprises a package of interventions to support the expansion of the RegionTal Centre and improve the quality of the environment on Great Ancoats Street by reducing severance created by this busy through-route. The proposals aim to improve routeing of traffic around the north-east side of the Regional Centre, including greater use of Alan Turing Way. Budget earmarked (subject to final scheme approval): Circa £10 million.
Wigan Gateway - Hub - Phase 1
A significant enhancement of the bus station to confirm its presence and sense of place, in order to support the wider delivery of commercial/economic development within Wigan town centre. The Wigan Gateway Hub Scheme will involve the enhancement of the existing Wigan bus station in order to support the wider delivery of commercial and economic development projects within the town centre. The package of works will improve passenger facilities at the bus station as well as clear telemetry with the two rail stations and connections to key destinations within the town centre. Budget earmarked (subject to final scheme approval): Circa £15.7 million.
Stockport Town Centre Major Scheme
A package of measures to transform the accessibility and connectivity to and around Stockport town centre by all modes and to ease congestion for buses and general road traffic, as part of an ambitious new vision and development framework for investment in the town centre. The package includes a comprehensive mix of transport schemes that will improve access to the area for the more sustainable modes e.g. bus, cycle and pedestrian improvements. The package will also rationalise traffic movements throughout the area by providing additional capacity on some routes to allow traffic to be reduced on others. Corridor improvements to key roads including the A6, a new link road (between the A6 and Travis Brow), a town centre-wide 20mph zone, improved access to Stockport rail and bus stations, bus priority improvements, improved cycle and pedestrian links, public realm enhancements and an upgraded signing strategy are planned. These measures will improve access to key development sites. Budget earmarked (subject to final scheme approval): Circa £73.2 million.
Ashton Town Centre Interchange
Development of a new interchange facility within Ashton Town Centre replacing the current ‘island’ style waiting shelters with a single high quality interchange building, incorporating bus and Metrolink within one site to create an attractive public transport gateway to the retail and commercial offer. Development of a new multi-modal interchange facility within Ashton Town Centre replacing the current five ‘island’ bus passenger waiting shelters with a single high quality interchange building. This will create an attractive public transport gateway to Ashton-under-Lyne, incorporating bus and Metrolink within one site. The design of the bus waiting facilities will include a combination of different stand types, which will optimise the amount of land for the new interchange and ensure operational flexibility. Budget earmarked (subject to final scheme approval): Circa £32.7 million.
Stockport Interchange
Development of a new bus station to provide improved integration with both the town centre and rail station at this major transport hub and focus for economic regeneration. Replacement of the existing Interchange with a new facility that enhances the quality of passenger facilities, supports the interchange between bus and rail and makes provision for the future extension of Metrolink into Stockport town centre. As well as transport improvements the new interchange will play a pivotal role in supporting the on-going development of the town centre. The Interchange has a key role in supporting the economic aspirations of Stockport and regeneration of the surrounding area, including the office led redevelopment of the Grand Central site. Budget earmarked (subject to final scheme approval): Circa £41.8 million.
Route 8 Bus Rapid Priority
Comprehensive bus priority measures on Bus Route 8 (Bolton-Salford-Manchester) to address constraints to bus commuting through this growth corridor to key destinations, including the Regional Centre, particularly from those areas with limited rail connectivity, delivering improvements in quality, frequency, journey times and reliability to support the economic regeneration aspirations of Bolton and Salford. This package of on-highways works will include the development a new bus interchange facility within Farnworth Town Centre, upgraded bus shelters, new bus lanes, bus gates and junction improvements to overcome known pinch-points (including Moses Gate). It also includes a new 1km busway on disused railway track between Walkden and the A580. The infrastructure will be delivered in combination with enhancements to the routing and timetabling of the current local bus network, to include the delivery of a new rapid express bus service for Bolton – Farnworth – Walkden – Swinton – Manchester. This new service will provide seamless bus-rail interchange at both Bolton and Walkden Train Stations; to new P&R facilities on the East Lancs (A580) under the M60 and strengthened linkages between Walkden and Farnworth Town Centres and Farnworth College and Health Centre. Budget earmarked (subject to final scheme approval): Circa £39.7 million.
Metrolink Service Improvement Package
Twelve additional trams for the Metrolink network to provide increased resilience across the network, which has experienced a 40% increase in demand in the past three years. These may be used on a variety of lines to provide the capacity needed to address the expected growth in Metrolink patronage and provide additional connectivity and reduced overcrowding for services serving key employment zones. The scheme also covers supporting infrastructure including the installation of a new wheel lathe for the Trafford depot; two substations in the Brooklands and Whitefield areas; and a turnback at Sale to improve resilience of the network. These facilities in combination improve the capability of the network, increase resilience and improve operational reliability. Budget earmarked (subject to final scheme approval): Circa £44.4 million.
