THE much-anticipated £350million Metrolink Trafford Park line is officially underway.

Dignitaries gathered at the Trafford Centre on Thursday January 12 to mark the beginning of construction of the new line, which is expected to be completed in four years.

The 3.4mile line will branch off from the existing Pomona stop and call at the Wharfside, near to Old Trafford football stadium, the Imperial War Museum, Trafford Park, EventCity and the Trafford Centre.

Advanced utility works are now underway. As part of the work, some traffic management measures will be put in place at Barton Dock Road, Village Way, Village Place and Trafford Wharf Road.

Trafford Council Leader, Cllr Sean Anstee, said: “I am delighted to be witnessing the start of works on the new Metrolink extension. This is a key milestone and supports our plans for Trafford to boost business investment, increase employment opportunities and the local economy.

“Trafford is an economic powerhouse that welcomes businesses and excellent transport links are a vital part of attracting new investment.”

Public support for the Trafford Park line was established at a public consultation in summer 2014, with 89 per cent of respondents in favour of the proposal.

Following a public inquiry in 2015, Chris Grayling, Secretary of State for Transport, granted Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) powers to build the new line in October 2016.

Richard Paxton, general manager of intu Trafford Centre, said: “Plans to link intu Trafford Centre to Greater Manchester’s Metrolink network have been an important part of our ambitions for the centre since it was built in 1998.

“As one of the UK’s largest retail and leisure destinations and a major regional employer, we believe this vital connection between Greater Manchester as a whole and intu Trafford Centre will play a crucial role in the city region’s ongoing growth and development.”

To find out more or keep up-to-date with the project, visit tfgm.com/MetrolinkTPL.