A new method of slip-forming will be pioneered on the project, Balfour Beatty said, to construct two dedicated concrete tracks alongside the existing highway. The guided buses will run on these new busways free from traffic congestion on the roads.
The scheme, being carried out for Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), will link Leigh in Greater Manchester with Ellenbrook in Salford.
Balfour Beatty, working with consultant Atkins, has also designed the scheme, which will have fourteen stops (seven in each direction) and follows a former railway route between East Bond Street in Leigh and Newearth Road in Ellenbrook.
The busways also incorporate cycle paths/bridleways.
Leigh MP Andy Burnham joined local council representatives last week to see Balfour Beatty start work.
Peter Commins, managing director of Balfour Beatty’s north west delivery unit, said: “Our team worked very closely with Transport for Greater Manchester during the design phase to ensure that the new busway offers convenience and comfort for users. We look forward to strengthening this collaborative relationship during construction.”
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