End of road for traffic chaos

COUNCIL bosses have promised the controversial Regent works causing traffic chaos in Manchester city centre will finish ‘at least a month earlier’ than planned.

The major works, initially due to last a year, are aimed at easing congestion on the ring road around Manchester and Salford city centres.

But since their launch in August, they have been causing misery for commuters and everyone who has to travel in, out or through the city centre.

Now, contractors Dawnus says it has ‘rephased’ and thanks to good progress so far, can complete sooner.

Bosses say they are also looking at whether they can increase Saturday working among other options to speed up the deadline further.

The M.E.N. revealed earlier this month that just 40 workers are on site, but Manchester council has said ‘flooding’ the scheme with more engineers would prove dangerous and inefficient.

With a 5pm finish time most days, the council says this avoids overnight disruption for residents.

Agreed by Greater Manchester Combined Authority as a priority for reducing congestion, the £15m project is a joint venture between Manchester council and Salford council.

It’s said the scheme will improve capacity at six key junctions ‘by up to 20 per cent,’ boosting air quality in the process.

But in the meantime, it’s been causing a serious headache for commuters – who say estimates by transport bosses that commutes will be extended by up to 20 minutes are ‘extremely conservative.’

Regent Road, which runs from the Mancunian Way to the M602, has been reduced to one lane in each direction up to the junction with the Sainsbury’s store and retail park.

Lanes have also been closed on the Deansgate/Chester Road roundabout and on major approach roads such as Chester Road and Chorlton Road.

Trinity Way narrows from two lanes into one on the approach to Regent Road and the Mancunian Way.

Other major trunk roads, such as Princess Road, the East Lancs Road, Hyde Road, Stockport Road and Ashton Old Road, are also expected to be much busier than normal due to the knockon effects.