MPT start work on last phase of Second City Crossing
MPT, the joint venture made up of VolkerRail, Laing O’Rourke and Thales, has started work on the final phase of Manchester’s Metrolink Second City Crossing (2CC) route.
The tramway construction works, now taking place along Princess Street; one of the city centre’s main strategic routes, commenced on Monday 4 April 2016. This follows the completion of preceding works along Cross Street, between King Street and John Dalton Street, and Peter Street.
Once complete, 2CC will continue from the recently opened Exchange Square stop before joining Cross Street and Princess Street where trams will run into a new and expanded tram stop, currently being built at St Peter’s Square and due to open to services later this year.
MPT project leader, Jim Goldsby said: “The work along Princess Street is the last major section of the programme. We have been working with Manchester City Council and Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) to develop a sequence of construction and associated traffic management schemes that minimise the impact on stakeholders, including local businesses, shoppers and commuters.
“The closure of Princess Street, to allow our highways and track laying activities to commence, is a key milestone within the programme. There has been a focused effort by our site team to ensure completion of works to the first section of Cross Street and Peter Street to allow for the closure of Princess Street. Once again the 2CC team have stepped up to the challenge and delivered another key milestone!”
TfGM’s, Metrolink director, Peter Cushing, said: “The start of work along Princess Street will be a major step forward for Second City Crossing, moving us into the final construction phase as we progress towards joining the tram track already laid in St Peter’s Square and along Cross Street.
“I’d like to thank businesses, residents, workers and commuters for their continued patience. The new Second City Crossing will provide the capacity to move millions more people around our growing city region to shop, work, dine out and enjoy everything Greater Manchester has to offer.”
This new tramline, through the heart of the city centre, will allow Metrolink to run more frequent, reliable and flexible services through the city and across the wider tram network when it opens in 2017. MPT is expected to complete the main track laying activities by late 2016.