Make way for Metrolink line

CONSULTATION launches tomorrow on the way trams will run through Oldham’s Manchester Street roundabout.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is expanding the Metrolink network in a £1.4bn investment that will triple the size of the network and includes a new line through Oldham town centre by 2014.

The line will pass through Westwood Business Park, follow Middleton Road and then head through the Manchester Street roundabout and along Union Street before re-joining the Oldham-Rochdale line at Mumps.

The original designs for the route saw trams pass through a tunnel under the Manchester Street roundabout to the King Street stop.

As the scheme has progressed, TfGM, in partnership with Oldham Council, has developed a new design for this section, which will see trams running at street level across the roundabout before passing under John Street and on to the King Street stop.

TfGM says this will improve the ride quality for passengers and will also deliver safety improvements, with pedestrian crossings and cycle crossings provided in place of the existing subways. Traffic signals will replace the existing traffic arrangements on the roundabout, and a new link road on the roundabout will enable traffic to join Oldham Way more directly from the south.

Planning permission for the revised Manchester Street section of the Oldham town-centre line was granted last February.

In order to operate the line, TfGM needs to formally apply to the Department for Transport to update its existing operating powers and is holding a public consultation in support of an application being submitted.

The consultation will run until Wednesday, April 25. Any comments must be received by that date.

To find out more about the Metrolink project, contact the Metrolink team on 0161-244 1555 (office hours) or email future.metrolink@tfgm.com.