Bus stops move as work continues
SOME bus services in a busy area of Stockport town centre will be displaced in January as part of work to create a new pedestrian zone.
Residents using bus stops in Mersey Square could be affected by the work which will see the area between the Merseyway shopping centre and Wellington Road become pedestrianised.
The road through Mersey Square will close for the works on January 8, 2024, but pedestrians will still be able to walk through the area and visit the shopping centre as usual.
Once closed, works will also take place to construct a new taxi rank at the entrance to the Interchange.
Due to the change, some bus services will move to different stands, including a temporary new stop on Exchange Street, before the town’s new transport interchange opens in spring.
Councillor Grace Baynham, Stockport council’s cabinet member for highways, parks and leisure services, said: “These works in Mersey Square are another element of the multi-million pound transformation of our town centre. Once complete, the new area will provide a great new space in front of Merseyway.
“The mixed-use scheme will deliver a state-of-the-art transport interchange and high-quality residential development which will further boost Stockport’s position as one of the bestconnected town centres in the North West.
“The major 10,000 sq m regeneration project is a core part of the Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) masterplan, which will see 130 acres of the town centre transformed into new housing, workspace, leisure and local amenities.”
Chris Barnes, head of projects group at Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), said: “The closure of Mersey Square is the next important stage of this landmark project for Stockport and Greater Manchester.
“We are working to ensure that the short-term impact of these works on passengers will be minimal, and I would like to thank in advance anyone affected for their cooperation and support.
“The interchange is now rapidly taking shape and as well as being a key part of the transformation of Stockport town centre it is also a key part of the Bee Network, connecting bus, rail and active travel and allowing for seamless journeys across the borough and beyond.”
The work is part of a £1 billion investment programme in the town centre between TfGM, Stockport council, Stockport MDC, and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) in conjunction with building contractor Willmott Dixon, and development partner CityRise.
The new interchange will be located below a new two-acre rooftop park, and includes 196 new apartments, as well as access to the River Mersey for the first time.
A new pedestrian and cycle route will link the new interchange to the railway station and the town’s commercial hub at Stockport Exchange.
The interchange is continuing to take shape with a current target opening for bus services and of the park of early Spring 2024.
Displaced services from G stand which will use the new Exchange Street stop include:
The 314 - Offerton Circular (Stagecoach) 358/360 Hayfield via Marple (Stagecoach) 364 Torkington via Offerton (Stotts) 375 Marple via Offerton (Stagecoach) 385 Marple via Offerton (D&G) 383 Marple via Offerton moving into Heaton Lane on stand H4 alongside the 384 (Stagecoach) 370/371 @ 06 & 26 past hour will depart from NEW Exchange St Stop (DIAMOND) Mersey Square DE F displaced services will move to: 11 Altrincham via Edgeley will depart from CC stand (Leyland Street). (Stagecoach) 309*/310^ Adswood/Edgeley Circular will depart from CC Stand (NEXUS) 2 deps an hour *309 divert outbound via A6, left Wellington St and resume onto Piccadilly. Inbound King St West, Travis Brow and A6 ^310 will need to divert out of town Outbound via A6, Wellington St, Duke St, St Petersgate then Exchange St. Inbound Via Kingston St, Travis Brow and A6 312 Cheadle Circular via Shaw Heath will depart from Stand CC (Stagecoach) Outbound A6, Wellington St and Piccadilly. Inbound A6, Heaton Lane, Travis Brow and A6. A full list of services impacted can be found on the TfGM website.