Works on the Chapel Street East (Phase 1) and New Bailey Gateway (Phase 2) scheme is due to start construction on 22 April and complete in early 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will there be any side road closures?
Throughout the construction, we will need to close the side roads to complete essential works. Below you can find indicative dates for when each side street will be affected. Please note the dates are subject to change, depending on weather conditions and underground excavations progress.
- Bury Street – permanent closure from 5 May 2025
- Dearmans Place (east side entrance closure) – 12 May to 20 June, alternative access via opposite Dearmans Place entrance
- Quay Street – 9 June to 1 July, alternative access via Spaw Street
- Dearmans Place (west side entrance closure) – 1 July to 6 August, alternative access via opposite Dearmans Place entrance
- Spaw Street – 2 July to 29 August, alternative access via Quay Street
- Clowes Street – 13 August to 15 August – traffic arrangements to manage access will be confirmed in due course
- Barlows Croft – 18 August to 20 August – traffic arrangements to manage access will be confirmed in due course
- Booth Street – 21 August to 22 August – traffic arrangements to manage access will be confirmed in due course
Why do the works require a full closure and cannot be done in sections with temporary signals instead?
The current one-way closure remains the safest and most efficient way to complete the works, balancing the needs of residents, businesses, pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport in a constrained city centre environment.
The consistent approach also avoids confusion for motorists who would otherwise get caught up in frequently changing arrangements, unable to follow the same routes from one day to the next. This would increase congestion and frustration for all road users.
The one-way closure also significantly reduces the works’ overall duration as each working day can be dedicated to carrying out the required works, without the need to spend several hours each day altering the arrangements, such as changing signal timings, moving signs, signal equipment and barriers etc.
What mitigation has been put in place to alleviate congestion during the works?
A number of changes to traffic signals have been implemented at key junctions to improve traffic flows.
The bus lane on Chapel Street leading onto Victoria Street has been suspended for the duration of the works to provide an additional relief route for traffic heading out of Manchester.
We continue to monitor the impact of these changes and their effectiveness.
Do emergency vehicles have adequate access?
Emergency services are aware of the plans on Chapel Street and we will continue to engage with them over the course of the construction.
It’s important to highlight that whilst the current traffic restrictions on Chapel Street provide a relatively narrow corridor for vehicles, opening it any wider would pose a serious risk to the public. The closed off section accommodates the movements of heavy machinery travelling up and down this stretch and provides a safe zone for the workforce to carry out the necessary excavations and construction, without interacting with passing cars, cyclists or pedestrians.
Emergency vehicles can also access traffic-free routes, such as the tram tracks on Cross Street, to get around congested areas faster.
Is anyone monitoring traffic flows?
All key junctions around the works area are CCTV monitored 24/7 by TfGM’s Operational Control Centre. Their engineers are able to make adjustments to signals’ operation remotely, if required.
Why is there a closure on Bury Street?
The permanent closure of Bury Street forms part of the overall project plans. By closing off the access, new continuous footways and cycle lanes can be built, making active travel safer, easier and more accessible. This element of the scheme’s design was included in the public consultation which took place in 2019.
Throughout the works, Bury Street will remain closed as this area is used for material and machinery storage, until construction in the area takes place.
Why are there no works taking place in evenings and at weekends?
Due to the number of residents living within the works area, the contractor is working the maximum allowed hours to balance the needs of the local people.
Journey planning and traffic updates
We encourage all road users to plan their to journey to the city centre in advance and check for any traffic alerts or mass events which may cause disruption on the road network by visiting:
What is the scheme?
Chapel Street East is located in a prominent position within Salford city centre and acts as a gateway to Manchester city centre. The area is undergoing a period of transformational change and regeneration that has already established it as an attractive and dynamic place to live and work. The vision for the area encompasses the need to create an accessible and integrated neighbourhood that joins together New Bailey with Greengate and connects the surrounding neighbourhoods, such as Trinity and Irwell Riverside, to the core of the city centre.
The works are part of a long-term plan to build high quality, safer pedestrian and cycling provision across the city centre. Public realm improvements will see the installation of rain gardens, planting beds and new trees introduced. There will also be upgraded surfaces and new street furniture to create a more inviting and dynamic space for all to enjoy.
The scheme will use a ‘complete streets’ approach to rebalance the space in favour of pedestrians and cyclists while also catering for buses, general traffic and loading with continuous cycle tracks and footways, new greenery and sustainable urban drainage systems.
When will the works take place?
The works will take place from Tuesday 22 April until early 2026. Traffic restrictions will be in place from Monday 5 May until the works’ completion.
What are the traffic restrictions?
During the construction there will be temporary traffic management in place. From 22 April we will start preparing the area for the construction works and will need to remove the existing cycle lane wands and some road markings. From Monday 5 May there will be a one-way closure on Chapel Street heading towards Salford (westbound), between Blackfriars Road and New Bailey, until early 2026, please see map below.
Traffic travelling towards Manchester (eastbound) will not be affected. Residents’ and businesses’ access will remain open at all times, however there may be some temporary changes to the access routes with diversions in place.
Throughout the construction some of the side roads on Chapel Street will also need to be closed for short periods of time. An alternative access route will be provided wherever possible. If this cannot be facilitated, we will ensure full details about the closure are communicated to the affected residents and businesses ahead of time. We will also endeavour to install these closures during quieter times, such as weekends, to minimise disruption.
Towards the end of the project we will also need to resurface the road, repaint white lines and apply other road markings. This will require some additional traffic restrictions, we will provide the full details in due course.
What’s the diversion?
The main diversion will be via Blackfriars Road and Trinity Way, and will be clearly signposted when the one-way closure on Chapel Street is in place, please see map below.
Other works in the area
Junction of Trinity Way and Great Ducie Street:
- Start 2 June 2025, planned completion mid-July
- Works to improve pedestrian safety at the junction
- Traffic restrictions will include lane closures which will only be in place off-peak, between 9.30am to 3.30pm Monday to Friday
- Visit the Manchester City Council’s website for more information on Junction of Trinity Way and Great Ducie Street
Access for residents and businesses
Residents’ and businesses’ access will be maintained at all times, however there may be some hold-ups while the workers move equipment out of the way and make the area safe to pass. We may need to close some of the side roads which may restrict vehicular access for short periods of time, this will be communicated with plenty of notice.
Will bus services be affected?
Buses will continue to operate on Chapel Street eastbound and New Bailey throughout the works but there may be changes to bus stop locations. For full details and information regarding any specific services, please visit www.tfgm.com
Compound location
The works’ main compound and offices will be located on East Ordsall Lane, just before the junction with Clermont Way. There will also be a materials storage site on Cook Street and a smaller site with welfare facilities on Bury Street, under the rail bridge. Please note access to Bury Street from Chapel Street will be closed permanently as part of the scheme from 5 May 2025.
How to get more information?
If you have any questions or would like to receive future updates on this project from Salford City Council, please email MajorWorks@salford.gov.uk
You can receive updates through WhatsApp, through the works' channel.
For any issues at the construction site or with the temporary traffic signals, please contact one of these 24/7 numbers:
- Louis McDowall - 07302 006 888
- Brendon Cloherty - 07813 715482
Downloadable documents
If you are unable to view documents of these types, our downloads page provides links to viewing software.