Major roadworks are being ramped up across Manchester with traffic levels plummeting by more than two thirds during the coronavirus lockdown.
It is ‘business as usual’ for the council highways teams, which has taken advantage of the quieter roads by filling potholes and fixing pavements.
Staff also helped with the opening of the city’s Nightingale Hospital by repairing surrounding roads and leaving some unique road markings in honour of NHS workers.
Work is progressing on larger infrastructural projects including the controversial £9.1 million reworking of Great Ancoats Street and the new £13 million Chorlton Cycleway.
Contractors are also doing their bit to help the COVID-19 response by delivering food parcels to vulnerable residents and donating personal protective equipment.
The council says it is pressing on with its plan to spend £100 million over five years reparing the worst roads in every ward in Manchester.
More than 100,000 sqm of new road surfaces - the equivalent of 14 football pitches - have been laid since April 1, while work is ongoing on the following routes:
- Princess Street (city centre)
- Kingsway (Burnage)
- Wilmslow Road (Rusholme)
- Crumpsall Lane (Crumpsall)
- Roads near Heaton Park and Manchester Airport
New puffin and zebra crossings are also being installed outside schools while thee majority of children and their parents remain at home.
Contractors are also doing their bit to help the COVID-19 response by delivering food parcels to vulnerable residents and donating personal protective equipment.
Coun Angeliki Stogia, the council’s executive member for the environment, planning and transport, praised residents for showing ‘patience and understanding’ when roadworks have been taking place in their neighbourhoods.
"Our goal is to continue improving the standard of the city's roads and footways, while ensuring that the necessary social distancing measures are applied to protect workers,” she said.
"While roads are quieter, we have been reviewing our programme to see which works can be advanced or prioritised and this process is ongoing.
"As well as resurfacing roads, repairing footways and creating new infrastructure for people travelling by bike, we've also seen our contractors going the extra mile and showing their commitment to providing social value for the city, by volunteering to support our response to the COVID-19 emergency.
"From supporting the opening of the new Nightingale Hospital to laying the groundwork for improved school crossing facilities across the city, there's been a huge amount achieved already, with much more to come."
