26.08.14
Work to start on £4.5m Midland Metro tram track upgrade
A £4.5m project to upgrade the on-street Midland Metro tram tracks through Wolverhampton will start next month, Centro has revealed.
During the 12-week project, which starts on 6 September, the badly worn tracks running through Bilston Road will be taken out and replaced.
The replacement of worn rail and ‘crossovers’, which allow trams to change tracks, will use a different type of steel which is much harder wearing than the original tracks.
In order to allow contractors to start on site, the Metro line between Priestfield and St George’s will be closed after the last tram on Friday 5 September.
The initial phase of works will require trams to terminate at Priestfield. However, once a new crossover is installed, the tram service will be extended to The Royal whilst the remainder of the work is completed.
Paul Griffiths, Centro’s Metro and sprint programme director, said: “This tram line plays a key role in supporting the local economy by providing a quick and reliable link to areas of employment, education and leisure.
“That’s why it’s so important we replace the tracks in Bilston Road which are now 15-years-old and in places only have a few months of life left in them.
“Not only will the upgrade safeguard the Metro’s reliability but it will offer a much more comfortable ride while helping to prepare for the future Wolverhampton city centre extension.”
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