Oldham’s iconic Mumps bridge is set to disappear under the latest plans to bring trams through the town centre.
Transport chiefs are proposing a futuristic transport interchange in the town’s ‘East End’ for trams, buses and cars as part of the Metrolink scheme.
From spring 2014 trams from Rochdale will travel along Brook Street at ground level and cut across Mumps roundabout to Union Street before heading into the town centre and onto Westwood and Werneth.
But it means that when the £84m town centre route opens, the one-and-a-half mile stretch of original railway line between Werneth and Mumps stations – due to open in autumn 2011 – will close.
The track, part of the Loop line to Rochdale which closed last year, is currently being converted to a tram line.
The latest plans from Oldham Council and the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE) also propose:
There are also new plans for trams to negotiate the Manchester Road roundabout at ground level rather than via an underground tunnel.
The scheme also spells the end for Werneth station.
Council leader Howard Sykes said: "This is very positive news because the earlier plans for Metrolink never included a gateway transport facility like this.
"The current Mumps station and infrastructure was wholly inadequate for a 21st century
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