Balfour Beatty has joined MP for Leigh, Andy Burnham and other dignitaries to mark the start of works on a £27 million project to deliver Manchester’s first ever guided busway this week.

The scheme, being carried out for Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), will link Leigh in Greater Manchester with Ellenbrook in Salford using specially adapted buses which will run on two dedicated concrete tracks alongside the highway, allowing them to avoid traffic congestion and offering passengers a smooth ride.

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Balfour Beatty will be using a new innovative slip-forming technique to install the guided busway which will significantly reduce costs and construction times over traditional methods.

Balfour Beatty, working with consultants Atkins, has also designed the scheme which will have fourteen stops (seven in each direction) and follows a former railway route between East Bond Street in Leigh and Newearth Road in Ellenbrook.

Walkers, cyclists and horse riders will be able to use a path along the entire length of the busway. All stops will be fully accessible and will include shelters, CCTV and real time information.

Peter Commins, Managing Director of Balfour Beatty's North West Delivery Unit, said: "We are thrilled to be starting work on this high profile scheme. Our team worked very closely with Transport for Greater Manchester during the design phase to ensure that the new busway offers convenience and comfort for users. We look forward to strengthening this collaborative relationship during construction."

(CD)