The temporary Park and Ride site for Manchester Metrolink passengers in Radcliffe is set to open on 6th September with initially 100 alternative parking spaces made available. Eventually the temporary facility will have capacity for 250 cars by the end of September as work to increase capacity at the current sites in Radcliffe and Whitefield gets underway in earnest.
As previously announced work will be undertaken at the current Park and Ride sites at Whitefield and Radcliffe with all work completed by summer 2022. Whitefield will be attended to first with work underway on 6th September which will involve the removal of up to 60 spaces to start with to allow the expansion works to get started.
To cater for this the temporary facility in Radcliffe opens on 6th September with 100 spaces before capacity is expanded to 250 cars by the end of the month, at which point the site at Whitefield will close completely, including the bus turning circle and bus stops.
Alex Cropper, Head of Operations at TfGM, said: “Park and ride plays a key role in helping people access the public transport system in Greater Manchester and this project has been carefully planned to ensure customers can still park up and access tram services if they need to. While we would encourage everyone to walk or cycle for shorter journeys and use public transport where they can, we know some people do have to drive for a part of their journey and ultimately work will mean there are more spaces available, which will in turn assist them in accessing the Metrolink system.”
- The temporary Radcliffe facility – close to Spring Lane School – will eventually have 250 spaces and will remain operational until all works are finished in summer 2022
- Whitefield Park and Ride will reopen in early 2022 with an extra parking deck, expanding car parking capacity from 208 to 331
- Radcliffe Park and Ride will close in winter 2021 and work to install a new parking deck increasing car parking spaces from 369 to 480 should be completed by summer 2022
During the works at Whitefield the drop-off and Blue Badge spaces will be closed with any passengers needing either of these advised to travel to Radcliffe instead. The exiting bus stops at Whitefield will also be re-sited on Stanley Road with the no. 95 bus serving there instead although it will remain operational throughout.
As Whitefield is in zone 3 and Radcliffe is in zone 4 any monthly or annual season ticket holders who have to park at Radcliffe instead of Whitefield will be able to travel on Metrolink at no extra cost for the duration of the works.