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Thursday 29 Jun 2023

Ordsall Chord footbridge opens reconnecting Salford and Manchester

Region & Route:

North West & Central

| North West & Central: North West

A key pedestrian and cycle route between Salford and Manchester has opened underneath the iconic Ordsall Chord railway bridge.

Network Rail invested £12m in the new footbridge to replace the former Prince’s Street bridge over the River Irwell, which was demolished in 2015 to make way for the major railway upgrade above.

That saw the world’s first asymmetrical railway bridge built so Manchester’s three main railway stations - Piccadilly, Victoria and Oxford Road – could be linked together for the first time, giving more flexibility to run trains right across the North.

While that was being built between 2015 and 2017, the footbridge below was also completed, as part of the future masterplan for the area.

In the intervening years, major construction work on both side of the river has seen multiple residential developments and the creation of Manchester’s new world-class arts venue, Aviva Studios, the home of Factory International.

Now this is ready to host the Manchester International Festival which starts today (Thursday 29 June) the footbridge can welcome its first users.

Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett, leader of Manchester City Council, Bev Craig and Jill Stephenson, principal development manager at Network Rail have now officially opened the structure.

Jill Stephenson, Network Rail principal development manager, said: “It’s great to see this footbridge finally in use as it’s been waiting in the wings since the completion of the Ordsall Chord railway bridge in 2017. It was always built with the future in mind, and it’s been incredible to see the area redevelop on both sides of the river in recent years. The footbridge can now play the role we always intended it to – connecting residents to their homes, workplaces, leisure and world class venues in both cities, directly underneath the iconic Ordsall Chord above.” 

Paul Dennett, Salford City Mayor, said: “Both cities have a rich and distinct, yet intertwined cultural identity. This work forms part of our sustainable transport plans for the whole city and with this bridge we’re creating a gateway to enable Salfordians access to cultural experiences on offer at MIF and Aviva Studios. 

“Bridges have played a huge role in literally bringing our cities together and forging links. Our two cities worked together to span the Irwell way back in 1830 with the Stephenson Bridge. Today, this bridge is further evidence of our joint commitment to opening up the cities and to providing alternative, greener options for crossing our famous river border.”

Cllr Bev Craig, leader of Manchester City Council, said: “The connections between our two great cities are long-standing and complementary so having a new physical link in our city centre is an important moment.  

“While the river Irwell is a seen as a geographical boundary it is not a barrier between the flow of people, trade and ideas. It’s particularly welcome that this new bridge will connect Aviva Studios, a world-class arts and social attraction and the new home of Factory International, and the new St Johns area with growing new districts on the Salford side of the Irwell. It’s a symbolic celebration of using culture as an economic and regeneration driver to deliver mutual success in growth of new jobs, communities, and districts to benefit our city region.”

Network Rail has worked closely with the two councils on its joint work to landscape the areas around both sides of the bridge as part of its wider sustainable travel plans for pedestrians and cyclists through Salford and Manchester.

Additional improvements on the Salford side also includes interpretation panels, to tell the story of behind perhaps the Irwell’s most famous crossing, the Stephenson Bridge.

Stephenson Bridge, a Grade I listed structure, was built by George Stephenson in 1830 and formed part of the world’s first passenger railway line, carrying passengers between Liverpool and Manchester.