TRANSPORT bosses have deployed “lollipop” ladies to remind people that a major city centre road is now two-way.

Princess Street switched to two-way traffic between Major Street and the Mancunian Way on Sunday as part of Transport for Greater Manchester’s (TfGM) and Manchester City Council’s plan to improve bus services and cycle facilities in the city centre.

The change will make it easier for drivers to get into and through the city centre as the bus priority package is rolled out along Oxford Road.

Commuters walking to work this week were being given lollipops to remind them to look both ways as they crossed the street.

Peter Boulton, head of programme management for Transport for Greater Manchester, said: “Road safety is a serious business but that doesn’t mean we can’t have a bit of fun to get our message across. What better way to tell people they need to take care now the changes have come into force than lollipop ladies?”

The sweet reminders are being backed up with road signs, line-painting and other signs and messages in the area. A special street-cleaning technique called ‘clean graffiti’ has also been used so that pavements at key crossing points can be used to reinforce the safety message.

Peter added: “Princess Street goes right through a popular part of the city for clubs and bars so we’ve been a bit cheeky with how we’ve used our safety message. Businesses in the area have been very supportive with what’s happening and are helping us spread the message, for which I thank them.”