Growing Our City: Tarmac is Just Temporary

Things are changing in the city centre.

Over the next three years Manchester City Council is redesigning Manchester into a world-class, 21st-century city to build a sustainable, thriving place for everyone who lives, works, invests, studies or visits our beloved city. The council is investing in a new public transport system and transforming our public and open spaces.

While the work is taking place, the city is still open and it’s business as usual, but you may need to allow a little more time for your travel.

St Peter’s Square, home to Central Library and the Cenotaph, is one of the most significant historic locations in the city centre. It’s an important symbol of the city’s heritage and growing international stature.

As part of the development, the tram stop is being relocated within the square and traffic will be substantially reduced to make the square more pedestrian-friendly. It will become a livelier place where you can relax and enjoy your surroundings.

Pedestrian access, even on Peter Street, has been somewhat limited but after a long inconvenient wait for hot-footers, access is now available.

As happy as they are with the pathway, many Mancunians are outraged by what appears to be a finished space; however, the tarmac is a tidy temporary measure.

The work will pause while they open the square fully for the Manchester Food and Drink Festival, Diwali Festival, Christmas Lights Switch-On and the return of the famous Christmas Markets.

Work will start again in January.

This project is costing tens of millions of pounds altogether, so let’s be patient and watch Manchester grow.

Manchester will be a global city by 2020.