[Jonesy55]

Ongoing works to expand the Metrolink tram system in the city centre.

Originally Posted by Freel07

Here goes with another 2CC update taken this afternoon.

Starting at Lower Mosley Street.

Not particularly significant but I notice that alongside the Midland the footpath will be widened, the new kerbs are much nearer the swept path.

P1160870 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr

On the other side of Oxford Street/Peter Street there is much more significant progress. The reinforcement for the 1CC northbound track is now in place for some distance into the stop area.

P1160878 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr

P1160873 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr

P1160875 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr

Similarly the 2CC southbound reinforcement has been extended south onto the concrete slab.

P1160882 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr

P1160883 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr

This afternoon they were concreting the space between the 1CC northbound and 2CC southbound lines.

P1160887 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr

P1160891 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr

There is also rail in place on 2CC northbound now towards the southern end of the square.

P1160895 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr

As Train Guard told us a new footpath linking Mosley Street to the library side of St Peters Square is now in use giving us a close up view of the diamond crossing.

P1160892 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr

P1160894 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr

In this general view across the site the heavy steelwork for 2 St Peters Square is prominent.

P1160898 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr

The diversion of pedestrians onto the new footpath has allowed work to start on extending the 2CC northbound curve into Princess Street.

P1160899 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr

P1160905 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr

P1160907 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr

The reopening of Portland Street has enabled the junction of John Dalton Street, Cross street and Princess Street to be closed to allow them to adjust the road levels.

P1160912 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr

P1160914 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr

P1160922 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr

On Cross Street some paving on the eastern side was in progress. Again the footpath is being widened.

P1160924 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr

P1160927 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr

Outside the Royal Exchange the whole site is now cleared and almost all levelled.

P1160928 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr

I just had to try for one with a tram at the end of the current line.

P1160931 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr

P1160939 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr

A quick visit to Boots for a purchase provided the opportunity for these two elevated views.

P1160932 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr

P1160933 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr

The existing line is now extended out halfway across Market Street.

P1160940 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr

P1160935 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr

3109 under attack from a Chinese dragon!

P1160942 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr

The paint job on this First Manchester Volvo has certainly weathered well.

P1160951 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr

That's all for this week.

Originally Posted by Freel07

Another update from 2CC between Windmill Street and Exchange Square this afternoon.

The noise reducing fencing panels from alongside the Midland have gone today opening up the view from Lower Mosley Street. Some of the uprights were still in place when I was there.

P1160511 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr

P1160513 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr

P1160516 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr

At the junction of Lower Mosley Street and Peter Street Oxford Street they seemed to be preparing the newly laid track for final surfacing in readiness no doubt for moving road traffic onto the southern lane so hat the more northerly track can be laid.

P1160518 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr

P1160519 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr

P1160523 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr

In St Peters Square itself the shuttering around the area of the concrete slab was being prepared. It looks as though the concrete is to be quite think here as the shuttering is deep.

P1160525 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr

P1160509 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr

The concrete around the diamond crossing was poured today.

P1160498 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr

P1160499 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr

P1160505 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr

P1160508 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr

A general view looking south through the site.

P1160502 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr

Now over to Cross Street where the rails for the southbound line between King Street and Princess Street have been laid in place and welded up.

P1160526 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr

P1160527 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr

The 2 guys by the van were grinding the weld to profile.

P1160529 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr

P1160530 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr

Utility works in full swing outside Cross Street Chapel.

P1160532 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr

Outside the Royal Exchange and up to the end of the current track they have cleared the road ready to prepare the foundations.

The first two shots looking north.

P1160533 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr

P1160535 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr

Looking south

P1160538 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr

There is still a short section of surfaced roadway at the bottom of Market Street but a large excavation exists now at the end of the existing route.

P1160539 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr

P1160542 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr

P1160543 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr

And just to complete the set some tram shots in Exchange Square

P1160548 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr

P1160552 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr

P1160554 by Steve Hyde, on Flickr