Salford council has explained why it is taking a YEAR to build bike lanes on a major city centre road where roadworks have caused traffic misery.
Work to install bike lanes, more pedestrian areas, and extra room for buses on Chapel Street began in late April, but a major closure of the thoroughfare came into effect last week (May 5), shutting Chapel Street westbound from Blackfriars Road to New Bailey Street.
The closure created long tailbacks in its first week, with motorists reporting ‘hour long queues’ and neighbours adding they’ve ‘never seen it like this before’.
Commuter Helen Marsh said on social media ‘it took me one-and-a-half hours to do a 13 mile journey from Leigh into Manchester [on] Thursday morning’ using the A6.
“It was gridlocked, cars blocking junctions because the lights turn before you can move, horn beeping everywhere,” she added. “It’s like doing a day’s work before you actually arrive at work.
“It’s turning people off travelling into the city centre for work and shopping — which is the opposite of what I assume the intentions are. So frustrating.”
There are fears Salford could face extended congestion hell, as the project is not expected to finish until April next year and its first weeks have been trying.
Now, council bosses have explained why work will take a year.
When asked by the Local Democracy Reporting Service why the end date is next spring, Coun Mike McCusker, the lead member for planning, transport and sustainable development, said: “The works involve extensive excavations to accommodate the works required around some of the existing underground utilities, drainage, traffic signal ducting, kerbing, footway and landscaping.
“The contractor has to carry these works out safely for the workforce and the public whilst maintaining access for buses, residents, businesses and general traffic in the city centre where there is very limited space and high congestion.”
Previously, a council spokesperson said the ‘one-way closure on Chapel Street represents the best solution currently available to deliver the works safely and efficiently’.
They added: “The set up balances the needs of local residents and businesses whilst maintaining the operation of public transport and general traffic flow with a provision for pedestrians and cyclists, whilst providing an adequate space for the works in a built up and very constricted city centre environment.”
After the first week of the closure, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) said it spoke to Salford council bosses to see if any tweaks could be made.
A TfGM statement explained: “We met with Salford Council and other key partners earlier today [May 10] to investigate the causes of the disruption in more detail and are explore options to ease the build-up of traffic along Chapel Street going forward, including potential changes to traffic light sequencing at the junction of Blackfriars Street.”
