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Platform construction underway on Metrolink’s Second City Crossing

Posted: 12 April 2016 | Katie Sadler, Digital Content Producer, Intelligent Transport | No comments yet

Metrolink’s Second City Crossing platform construction is well underway at Manchester city centre’s St. Peter’s Square.

Platform construction underway for Metrolink’s Second City Crossing

Metrolink’s Second City Crossing platform construction is well underway at Manchester city centre’s St. Peter’s Square.

Platform construction underway for Metrolink’s Second City Crossing

The St. Peter’s Square tram stop is currently being rebuilt as part of a flagship redevelopment project.

The stop, which is due to open to passengers this autumn, will join other new and transformed city centre stops at Exchange Square, Deansgate-Castlefield and Victoria as key destinations on the new £165 million Second City Crossing (2CC) tram line.

St. Peter’s Square tram stop has been specifically designed with two island platforms to allow more trams to run through the city and across the network. The platforms have been pre-cast in a factory to save time during assembly. According to Transport for Greater Manchester (TGfM), the environmentally-friendly technique – which also improves product quality – reduces waste and plant equipment on site.

10 tonne platform units hoisted into place as part of Metrolink’s Second City Crossing

Each unit, weighing up to 10 tonnes, is being hoisted into place this week on top of the previously installed side walls of the platform bordering Manchester Central Library.

Platform construction underway for Metrolink Second City Crossing

In addition to platform construction, a number of new mature trees will be planted around the stop to complement the redevelopment

Commenting on the latest development, TfGM’s Metrolink Director, Peter Cushing, said: “The new-look stop for St Peter’s Square is really taking shape, with the track formation in place and, now, one of the island platforms well on its way to completion.

“Building a new tram stop in the middle of a busy city centre is no mean feat and our work programme has been focused on getting the work done as quickly and efficiently as possible while still keeping trams running through the city.

“St Peter’s Square is going to not only look amazing, but will be a major commuter hub when the new Second City Crossing line starts to run through it from early next year.”

“St Peter’s Square is going to not only look amazing but will be a major commuter hub”

Bryan Glass is Project Director for principal contractor M-Pact Thales (MPT), a consortium of Laing O’Rourke, VolkerRail and Thales, with RATP Dev Ltd responsible for operating the Metrolink network.

He said: “This is an exciting week for our team who will shortly see the new platforms shaping up. Using Laing O’Rourke’s signature offsite manufacture approach, it only takes 5 days to lift, install and secure 46 precast concrete components that have been produced at Laing O’Rourke’s manufacturing facility in Nottinghamshire.

“This is not only a safer approach, it delivers a higher quality product, causes minimal disruption in this busy city centre location and is quicker than on site construction.”