Deansgate is STILL chaos, and this time 'you can't blame the Christmas Markets'

Continuing chaos around Deansgate and surrounding roads in Manchester city centre has been slammed by residents. Photos from consecutive afternoons this week have shown queues of traffic snaking down Deansgate and Quay Street amid ongoing changes to the road scheme on the central route through the city.

The traffic issues came into sharp focus before Christmas, with Manchester council and Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) blaming "major events over the festive period," for worsening road congestion. Deansgate has been turned into a one-way route for motorists heading southbound only, as part of the redesign of the city centre thoroughfare.

From Monday (January 27) another lane closure will begin at the bottom end of Deansgate at the Bridgewater Viaduct as part of the scheme. Residents fear that will compound the traffic issues even further.

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One city centre resident, who asked not to be named, took photos of the chaos on Wednesday night at 6.30pm showing queues of cars snaking down Quay Street and along Deansgate.

She said: "You can't blame the Christmas Markets for this. This was a Wednesday in January and the queues were down Quay Street and Deansgate - people were sat in traffic for 20 minutes or longer down that stretch of Quay Street.

"The queue blocks people coming out of Gartside Street which is the knock on, and you can't get down Bridge Street because of the bus gate. The roads have been like this for months and months now."

Thursday night saw further queues across the afternoon along Deansgate. The resident said she feels there has not been adequate consultation on the next part of the scheme - which begins on Monday.

"We were told they need to do some extra work widening the pavements and we said this is ridiculous," they added. "It wears you down. There has not been adequate or meaningful consultation with residents."

Manchester council announced on Friday details of the latest road closure, which will start on Monday [January 27]. It will involve a temporary lane closure of the A56 at the Bridgewater Viaduct between Whitworth Street West and Old Deansgate/Owen Street.

Bosses have advised motorists to "avoid this stretch of road where possible" for the next two to four weeks.

They said the closure of the southbound carriageway – travelling out of Manchester - is planned to provide work crews a safe environment to carry out the widening of the pavement around the viaduct. A diversion will be in place for those leaving the city centre, going along Whitworth Street West/Albion Street/Medlock Street.

The northbound carriageway – travelling into the city centre - will remain in use for motorists and cyclists. The closure is planned to be in place for two weeks, extendable up to four weeks dependent on weather or if other unavoidable issues arise.

The council said it "will endeavour to minimise disruption during this period, but motorists are advised to avoid this stretch of road where possible during the course of works. Steps will be put in place to manage traffic around busy periods to keep delays to a minimum."

Councillor Tracey Rawlins, executive member for clean air, environment and transport, said: "This necessary closure will be put in place to ensure that workers in the road are able to carry out their jobs safely, and I would like to thank people in advance for their patience."

What the Council says about the Deansgate project

The M.E.N. asked the council for comment on the concerns raised about the scheme and the ongoing congestion. A spokesperson said: "The works in Deansgate are entering their final stage after they were first announced in July last year.

“We are grateful for the patience shown by residents and motorists as these important upgrades to our city centre infrastructure are made.

"As with any major project there will always be some level of disruption and we have done our utmost to mitigate any negative impact, in particular during especially busy periods as were seen during the Christmas period.

“This scheme is part of our wider ambition to change the way we view our relationship with cars in the city centre. Further up Deansgate, from Blackfriars Street, we have seen the positive impact changes to the layout of the road can have, with more space being given over to residents and businesses rather than vehicles.

"This is the kind of success we want to replicate along the entire length of Deansgate.

"We also know that public transport is key to providing alternatives to travelling via car which is why we remain entirely supportive of the work being carried out by TfGM to provide even better transport links across Manchester.

"This is an ongoing process and change will not happen over night, but we believe this is the best way to ensure there is lasting and meaningful change in our city.

"As these works enter their end stage we would again ask people to plan their journeys in advance and try to avoid peak travel times, or if this is not possible allow more time when entering and exiting the city centre."