Even more closures of Regent Road are planned over the next month

Even more road closures are on their way on Regent Road as the beleaguered roadworks scheme enters its final stage.

However there is some light at the end of the tunnel for motorists, with bosses saying they do not expect it to delayed and hope it will be completed as originally planned this summer.

The project to increase capacity on the city centre ring road, formally known as the Manchester and Salford Inner Relief Route, has been hit by problems over the past few months.

The £15 million project, which got underway last August, was left in limbo after the main contractor, Welsh firm Dawnus, went into administration in the middle of March.

After several weeks of uncertainty, and with work at a standstill, a new contractor, John Sisk & Son was appointed at the end of the month.

The project to increase capacity on the city centre ring road has been hit by problems over the past few months (Image: ABNM Photography)

Council bosses say the project plan remains unchanged and it will increase capacity by 20 per cent on the bottleneck in and out of the city centre as well as improving cycle and pedestrian crossings.

Before the new contractor came in Manchester council highways staff carried out work laying kerbs, surfacing pavements and filling holes to ensure the site was ready for work to fully re-start.

And after beginning work at the start of this month, the new contractor are working extra hours in the evening, past the previous finishing time of 5pm , saying that with the increased daylight makes this safer to do.

They are also as working some Saturdays as well to make up for lost time.

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Manchester council, who are overseeing the joint project with Salford City council have told the M.E.N: "Despite the challenges caused by the situation with the previous contractor, we still anticipate that work on Regent Road will be finished this summer, within the previously anticipated project timescale."

Lane closures on the Mancunian Way, Chester Road, Regent Road and Trinity Way have caused long delays during rush hour.

And before the project can be completed, there is key resurfacing work that needs to be carried out and that will involve some full closures of the road over a 25 day period from early to late May, which will cause potential disruption.

However on Regent Road itself, the closures will be only be in place overnight, from 10pm to 5am, and opposite carriageways will be done on different days.

Some of the long queues form which form at the Regent Road / Mancunian Way junction during rush hour (Image: MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS)

Two key access roads for Salford residents off Regent Road, Oldfield Road and Ordsall Lane will be closed in the daytime however.

A spokesman for the Manchester-Salford Inner Relief Route scheme, which is being carried out by Manchester and Salford city councils, said: "Thanks to the diligent work of our new contractors John Sisk & Son, who are on site six days per week, the scheme to significantly improve Regent Road for the benefit of all road users is back on track.

"We have always been focused on safely delivering the improvements as quickly as possible and despite the change in contractors, are confident that a reconfigured, resurfaced Regent Road will be fully open this summer, with better traffic flow and new facilities for cyclists and pedestrians."