Oxford Road transformation: bus priority works and Precinct bridge demolition
27 Jul 2015
Access along Oxford Road will be disrupted during August and September by the first stage of the bus priority works and the demolition of the Precinct bridge
The Oxford Road bus priority works will begin on 31 July for eight weeks and have been timed to coincide with the closure of Oxford Road for the demolition of the Precinct bridge (10 August - 6 September) in order to reduce traffic flow through this area.
Bus priority works
The first step will be to build a trial bus stop on Oxford Road, below the Hathersage Road junction, opposite Whitworth Park. The stop, featuring Manchester's first physically segregated ‘Dutch-style’ cycle bypass, has been carefully developed following public consultation in 2013.
The image above shows an example of a ‘Dutch-style’ cycle lane, which safely segregates cyclists from other road traffic, with the cycle lane passing directly behind the bus stop platform.
During construction of the trial stop there will be some localised lane narrowing and temporary closures between Moss Lane East and Hathersage Road, but most of the work will be timed to minimise impact. Temporary diversions will be clearly signposted to make users aware of the alternate routes.
To help minimise disruption during the work, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) will monitor the road network in real-time and adjust traffic signals to reduce any congestion. However, if you use this route regularly, you should allow more time for your journeys.
When the trial stop has been built, TfGM will ask users for feedback so that they can monitor and evaluate how cyclists, bus users and pedestrians interact at the stop - including the effectiveness of the proposed central zebra crossing. The design will then be fine-tuned to ensure that it works for everyone.
The main work to transform Oxford Road is scheduled to begin later this summer. Further updates will be published as they are issued by TfGM.
Further information
- Contact TfGM at 0300 123 1177 or buspriority@tfgm.com
or - Visit TfGM: Making buses a priority
Precinct bridge demolition
From 10 August to 6 September, Oxford Road will be closed between the junctions with Hathersage Road and Booth Street West/East to allow the demolition and removal of the Precinct bridge. Access will be maintained for vehicles on University business or with other local businesses.
Pedestrian and cycle access
Pedestrian access is only restricted to the area of the demolition zone around and under the bridge. There will be no pedestrian access under the bridge, on the Crawford House side of Oxford Road, for the four week period of the road closure. There will be no pedestrian access under the bridge, on the Precinct side of Oxford Road, from 15 – 17 August. Outside these dates, there will be limited pedestrian access along the front of the Precinct retail units. Alternative pedestrian routes will be signposted at appropriate points on Oxford Road.
Cycle access is only restricted to the area of the demolition zone around and under the bridge, and there will be no cycle access under the bridge for the four week period of the road closure. Alternative cycle routes will be signposted at appropriate points on Oxford Road. Cyclists are requested to not use the pedestrian access under the bridge, and use the designated alternative routes.
Vehicle and bus diversions
Vehicular traffic and bus route diversions will be in place, and will be the same as during the first road closure in June. The main diversionary route follows Hathersage Road, Upper Brook Street and Booth Street East, and will be used by the following bus services:
- 18, 38, 41, 42, 43, 44, 142, 143, 145 (In,) 157, X41, X57, 141, 191 and 197
An alternative diversion will run along Moss Lane East, Lloyd Street North, Higher Cambridge Street and Booth Street West – this will be used by bus services 15, 53 and 111.
A map of the road closure and diversion routes can be downloaded from:
147 bus diversion
This differs slightly from the other bus route diversions and will be as follows:
- From Piccadilly Station:
Normal route as far as Booth St East where the buses will turn left, then right onto Upper Brook Street, right onto Dover Street and left onto Oxford Road at the Student Union where they will follow the existing route into the Hospitals Complex. - From Hospitals:
Exit The Boulevard onto Hathersage Road, then left onto Upper Brook Street where the buses will travel most of its length up to Grosvenor Street. Turning left into Grosvenor Street and right onto Oxford Road at All Saints where the buses will follow the normal route to Piccadilly Station.
The latest updates for the 147 service are online at:
Retail outlets
SPAR store closed their premises on 28 July as their lease had expired and will not be reopening.
Blackwells/Starbucks will be closed for three days from Saturday, 15 to Monday, 17 August whilst the heaviest and noisiest of the bridge demolition activities take place.
Further information
- Contact James Boland, Project Manager, Directorate of Estates and Facilities, at james.boland@manchester.ac.uk or 0161 306 5571 (extn 65571)
or - Visit Transport for Greater Manchester
Further updates will be provided as preparations and work progresses.