A key connection between the cities of Manchester and Salford has been reinstated after a six year closure.
Prince's Bridge officially reopened on Thursday (June 29) as a pedestrian and cycle connection over the Irwell from Salford to the new Aviva Studios in Manchester, home of Factory International, the city's new pioneering arts venue. This came on the same day the Manchester International Festival (MIF), with the bridge providing an easy route for visitors to attend.
The bridge runs under the Ordsall Chord railway bridge which was built between 2015 and 2017. Network Rail has spent £12million to build this new footbridge, which replaces the former Prince's Bridge which was demolished in 2015 for the Ordsall Chord to be built.
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Despite the Ordsall Chord being completed in 2017, Prince's Bridge has remained closed during this time due to construction work on either side of the bridge. This includes Aviva Studios on the Manchester side and flats on the Salford side, cutting off a major link from the footpath along the Irwell from Salford into Manchester City Centre.
The bridge was opened with a ceremony including Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett, Leader of Manchester City Council, Bev Craig and Jill Stephenson, Principal Development Manager at Network Rail. They say the bridge forms part of plans for a wider sustainable travel route through Salford and Manchester.
This aims to create better links between Salford, especially Salford University and Middlewood Locks, to Castlefield, and the rest of Manchester City Centre.
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."
