A major revamp on Chapel Street has finished months ahead of schedule.
08:08, 29 Nov 2025Updated 08:41, 29 Nov 2025
Chapel Street has been transformed (Image: Declan Carey)
People in Salford have welcomed a massive change on one of the city’s busiest streets. A stretch of Chapel Street between New Bailey Street and Blackfriars has reopened after months of work to transform the road into a safer place for pedestrians and cyclists.
Expected to finish in 2026, the £4m revamp has opened ahead of schedule with cars and bikes back on the road. David Lafferty, 50, lives near Chapel Street and said it will make a huge difference.
“I think it’s great, it was pretty cr*p before but it’s way better now,” he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service. “It will make a big difference for me because I come down here a lot, it’s just easier and you feel safer.”
This part of the street now has new cycle lanes on either side, and a pedestrian crossing in the middle. It comes after big changes on Deansgate in Manchester, which made the city centre street one-way and created new bike lanes.
Two landmark projects on some of the busiest roads in Manchester and Salford, both completed in the same year. But back on Chapel Street, David was less sure about whether new facilities are enough to encourage people to cycle rather than hop in the car.
“If you’re using a bike you’d use it anyway, but it looks better,” he said. “If you totally pedestrianised it maybe that would [get more people cycling], but I don’t know if you are going to get more people out, but it’s a lot better than it was.”
David Lafferty was out on his bike using the new cycle lanes (Image: Declan Carey)
The works on Chapel Street were not without complaints, with fears at the start of construction of congestion and gridlock. Some residents later said construction work was noisy and often happened after midnight, causing sleepless nights.
But now the construction barriers are down, the vibe on Chapel Street was positive about the change. Alex Fothergill, 23, made the brave decision to start renting a flat on Chapel Street two months ago when the area was still a construction site.
The Stockton-on-Tees native added: “Now it’s all done it looks very nice. I think it will get more people out walking and cycling, it’s a great direction towards Spinningfields way. The traffic is not too bad now but it was a nightmare before when it was being built.
Alex Fothergill said the changes are positive for Salford (Image: Declan Carey)
“Living in the city centre, you do sometimes come to expect less greenery, but it’s good to have more of that here.”
Further up the street, 56-year-old Grahame Robertson said: “I’m here every day and it looks fresher and cleaner now. I’m not sure if this itself will encourage more people to cycle, but I hope it does.”
Grahame suggested that many in Manchester and Salford have come to rely on driving, a situation which is not stress-free. “I drive on the Mancunian Way and if there’s an accident in the morning you just don’t know what time you’ll get to work.”
Salford council said a ‘Streets for All’ design approach was used to rebalance the space in favour of pedestrians and cyclists, while also catering for buses and general traffic.
Grahame Robertson said driving in parts of Greater Manchester can be a frustrating experience (Image: Declan Carey)
Along with new bike paths and footways, there’s been more planting and ‘sustainable urban drainage systems’ put in place, the town hall added.
Coun Mike McCusker, the lead member for planning, transport and sustainable development at Salford council, said: “This is a fantastic achievement for Salford. Completing the works ahead of schedule means we can reopen the road before Christmas, easing travel for residents, businesses and visitors during one of the busiest times of the year.
“These improvements will make a real difference to how people experience the city centre – creating safer, greener, and more connected spaces for everyone.”
Salford Mayor Paul Dennett posted about the works finishing early on social media, saying: “Last May Salford Labour pledged to enhance our city’s active travel infrastructure, as part of our wider commitment to improving our sustainable transport infrastructure, and meeting our net-zero aims. Delighted to see this scheme come to fruition.”