The Eccles Metrolink line is set to reopen following a month-long closure.
The tram route was closed on July 19 to allow engineers to fix two sections of track, a project that was initially set to take two weeks.
However, having taken a closer look at the state of the tracks, experts decided that the concrete around the line - which had been there for more than 20 years - needed to be relaid.
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The condition of the concrete was only visible once the rails had been removed and engineers concluded at that point that there was no other option than to carry out additional concrete replacement as part of the works.
This resulted in the planned closure having to be extended by two weeks.
The tracks and concrete have now been replaced in a number of sections, which will ensure the line is 'as robust as possible' and engineers will survey the remainder of the line to determine if any more work is required in future.
It will now reopen on Monday, August 16.
TfGM’s Head of Metrolink, Daniel Vaughan said: “We are delighted to get the Eccles line back up and running in time for schools reopening and as more customers make a move back to the office.
“I’d like to apologise to our Eccles line passengers who were disrupted for an extended period but the condition of the concrete track bed only became apparent once we started to remove rails, this resulted in significantly more work than we originally planned.
“Our contractors have been working around the clock and I’m pleased to confirm that repairs will be completed over the weekend so that we can reopen the line on Monday.”
Due to the impact of Coronavirus on Metrolink staff, the network is currently running on a temporary timetable.
This sees trams running every 12-minutes across the network, with all available vehicles used to provide as much capacity as possible and double trams operating along the busiest lines. Where possible, and subject to staff availability, additional services will run at the busiest times, Metrolink says.
The reduced timetable will remain in place throughout August and more frequent services will be reintroduced in early September - ahead of the return to school and the workplace.
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