Irwell River Park

Irwell River Park will ultimately provide an 8km sustainable transport corridor at the heart of the Regional Centre, allowing movement by foot, cycle and boat.

Through the new riverside route and new public spaces at key intersections, the Park will provide improved linkages to the neighbourhoods and commercial areas along its banks. The river will become the ‘green lung’ for the city, providing a route which is pleasant, well-lit, safe and attractive to use for all the community including those with restricted mobility.

Pedestrians will be able to walk the MediaCityUK Loop using new waterside public realm and bridge at MediaCityUK Piazza, MediaCityUK footbridge and Trafford Wharf Promenade. For the first time a continuous network around the Quays will be established, between the cultural attractions and employment areas of the Quays including Imperial War Museum North, the Lowry and, of course, MediaCityUK.

In the city centre, new spaces at Chapel Wharf and Salford Central Riverside will complement Spinningfields' Bridge and the iconic Cathedral Walk bridge.

Irwell River Park has been designated as part of the National Cycle Route, forming part of Route 55 and 6. In the long term it will be possible to cycle a continuous traffic-free route between the city centre and the Quays via purpose-designed wide paths. Of particular importance to this is the proposed pedestrian and cycle bridge at Clippers Quay which links the Salford and Trafford banks, without which it is necessary to use Trafford Road Bridge to cross the Ship Canal.

In the future, water taxis may be able to ferry passengers along the river between stops in the city centre and at the Quays. For example, boats could provide a journey between MediaCityUK and the Lowry Hotel lasting about 15 minutes, free of traffic and city centre queues of the city.