Deansgate sees interim changes to improve safety and maintain cyclist and pedestrian access

  • Monday 27 June 2022

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The next steps are being taken by the Council to keep in place measures that will further reduce the amount of traffic in Deansgate.

Since the road was first temporarily restricted during the early months of the Covid pandemic in 2022, support has remained strong amongst the public for it to be made permanent.

A consultation run since then found there was still broad public support for measures in place, and the Council is keen to build on this.

As part of the wider City Centre Transport Strategy, which aims for 90% of all peak morning journeys to be via walking, cycling or public transport by 2040, the Council is working to encourage more people to use active methods of travel as well as use public transport.

In the spirit of this ambition the Council is proposing to keep the measures on Deansgate in place, maintaining a balance between the space already given over for pedestrians and cyclists, as well as keeping infrastructure for public transport and taxis.  

As the situation in Deansgate moves from a temporary scheme to an interim one, its main features will be:

  • Bus gate and Deansgate one-way southbound between Blackfriars and King Street – buses and taxis only. Segregated cycle facilities included.
  • Traffic one way southbound between King Street west and Quay Street.
  • Bridge Street westbound bus gate, located west of Gartside Street (eastbound traffic unaffected).
  • Existing access will remain across Deansgate at St Ann Street, King Street and Bridge Street.
  • Right-turn ban from Bridge Street onto Deansgate will be removed.
  • Northbound contraflow cycle provision between Bridge Street and Blackfriars.
  • Two-way cycle lane between Quay Street and Bridge Street.

Other changes have also been proposed including improvements to the barriers, cones and signs which have until now separated vehicles on the road. More attractive bollards, signs and road markings will be put in place.

The temporary ‘wands’ which separated cycle lanes from vehicles will be replaced with more substantial segregation which will be bolted to the carriageway. 

 

Councillor Tracey Rawlins, Executive Member for Environment and Transport said: “The Council has a long-standing vision for the future of Deansgate and these latest measures are a positive step towards that. 

“With the right changes we want to encourage more people to walk, cycle or use public transport in Manchester and by focusing on one of the most heavily used streets in the city we believe that our ambition is on clear display.” 

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