The first phase of Manchester’s Second City Crossing light rail extension has been completed.
A new stop at Exchange Square marks the completion of the first stage of what Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has described as a “transformational project”.
The line, which will be completed in 2017, will provide a new city centre link connecting St Peter’s Square, Exchange Square and Victoria station.
The £165 million Second City Crossing will also see the Deansgate-Castlefield stop redeveloped and a new stop built in St Peter’s Square.
Councillor Andrew Fender, chair of the TfGM committee, said: “Ultimately, the Second City Crossing will allow Metrolink to run more frequent and reliable tram services through our expanding city and across Greater Manchester.
He added: “Getting the Exchange Square stop up and running weeks before Christmas is a significant achievement – and one that would not have happened without European funding to fast-track the work.”
M-Pact Thales (MPT), a Laing O’Rourke, VolkerRail and Thales consortium, is the project’s principal contractor.
