The Ordsall Chord

This is a busy, confusing scene. But it is in reality highly organised.

For decades the Ordsall Chord has been something featuring in paper plans. Now those plans are being turned into reality. 

The northern rail system has many problems, but a key one is congestion at the heart of Manchester - it means for example that at Piccadilly passenger trains have to cross freight lines and vice versa.

This is all going to be solved by a direct connection between Piccadilly and Victoria Stations, involving a new rail link between what were previously entirely separate rail lines. That rail link is short, but it has to cross the Trinity Way, the River Irwell and Water Street. That is one big construction and project management challenge.

Between mid December and mid January (ish) rail lines will be closed, and between Christmas and New Year a massive crane is coming to town. A real heavy weight is needed to do some serious lifting.

The blip is a partial view of current progress. That rusty looking thing to the right in this scene is the first element of the huge arch that will support the new rail line over the River. It will be constructed of Corten - there are a few examples of its use in town, notably the People's History Museum.