Travel disruption across Greater Manchester this weekend
Ashton tram line is out of action until Monday, and lane closures will be in place on the M60 anticlockwise both Saturday and Sunday
Travel across Greater Manchester is set to be disrupted again this weekend.
Ashton tram line is out of action for essential maintenance work and lane closures will be in place on the M60 anticlockwise.
Ashton tram line
From Friday 5 to Sunday 7 September, sections of tram track on the Ashton line and near Piccadilly Station will undergo essential maintenance.
During this time, no trams will operate between Piccadilly Gardens and Ashton-under-Lyne.
A replacement bus service will operate between the affected stops.
Tram services will resume from start of service on Monday 8 September.
A statement from Transport for Greater Manchester stated: "We’re replacing sections of tram track across the Bee Network, investing nearly £150m to maintain, upgrade and improve the Metrolink network through to 2027.
"It’s part of a coordinated long-term plan to make sure you can get around on safe, reliable and accessible services across the tram network into the future.
"Earlier this year we successfully delivered track renewals near Piccadilly Gardens (2 June-10 August) and worked with the Metrolink operator to keep trams running from Piccadilly to Ashton throughout the closure.
"We are now working on different sections of track that are reaching the end of their working life near Piccadilly Station and elsewhere on the Ashton line.
"This means we need to close the Ashton line and Piccadilly tram stop, but replacement buses will be available keep you moving as smoothly as possible during the works.
"We’re doing everything we can to minimise disruption by avoiding the busiest times on the network and completing multiple maintenance projects together (where possible).
"Thanks for bearing with us as we improve your Bee Network."
M60 lane closures
Drivers in Greater Manchester are being urged to avoid a section of the anti-clockwise M60 around junction 19 of the M60 at Middleton and Heaton Park for two weekends.
Maintenance work, including deck waterproofing, along the motorway requires lane closures along the anti-clockwise carriageway on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 September and again on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 September.
Only one lane on the anti-clockwise carriageway will be open to drivers during these two weekends with potential significant congestion so drivers are advised to plan ahead and consider alternative routes including the clockwise M60.
National Highways programme delivery manager, Mangat Bansal, said: “We’ve worked really hard to minimise the impact of these roadworks on drivers’ journeys by doing most of the repairs overnight when the motorway is less busy and keeping all three lanes running and the slip road open during the day.
“This is the only phase of the project which will have an impact on drivers’ daytime journeys and while we’ve chosen the quietest part of the week significant congestion at times is inevitable.
“We’d like to thank motorway users in advance for their support and patience and urge them to plan journeys around junction 19 to avoid the congestion during next month’s weekend working.”