Two more phases, over a similar period next winter, will come as part of the £11.8 million programme to provide locals and visitors with a smoother ride – and track likely to last twice as long as its predecessor.
Come Easter, the tramway will look very different. The level will have been raised to just below the footway on the highway side, and the dips removed from tracks.
The seaward side will be reconstructed as part of the coastal defence project. The surface of the tramway will change and the uneven paving slabs between the tracks – seen as a hazard by many pedestrians – will be replaced with a smooth coloured concrete surface to complement the Masterplan works on the seafront.
It involves an army of workers, about 50 in all, over 12 months with a break in between. It will replace 6.5km of track and involves 26km of rail, 10,000 sleepers, 8,000 cubic metres of concrete, 30,000 tonnes of stone ballast, and 30,000 cubic metres of material excavated.
It's all being co-ordinated by Blackpool Council's engineers who say the overall package, which incorporates seawall, tramway and highway, also takes account of any future alterations.
Peter Cross, the principal engineer for capital projects, explains: "It's all going very well at the moment and we expect the track to be completed on time.
"We have a project engineer, Anthony Hill, who is co-ordinating the works and we are trying to build it to take account of the shape of things to come for Blackpool.
"Obviously the supercasino was at the back of our minds but this is part of the masterplan and we will go on with regeneration regardless of what happens.
"We have a prom movement strategy, too, which is still in the process of being refined and developed and it will clearly set out where we want to site pedestrian crossings.
"We could get more of these ultimately but we are looking at a different way of handling crossings -–and are about to construct a pilot crossing of a different form to the traditional controlled-signals led crossing you've seen to date.
"It will draw on the shared space principles, of the kind used on the continent, but you'll have to watch this space for more!
"It's not dissimilar to what's happened at Clifton Street in the town centre and the aim is to get motorist and pedestrian to interact with each other, make eye contact."
The chief engineer is delighted with the progress made to date: "This is one of the big challenges. The track is being replaced, there are new foundations, and a lot of debate about the track to make sure we get the right construction for Blackpool.
"There's to be a new surfacing on finish of the track – a top finish to tie in with the masterplan's plans for the Promenade. No, not gold! More an exposed aggregate coloured finish.
"We have to take into account, when looking at the colour, the requirements of the Railway Inspectorate in differentiating the tramway.
"In that respect the pedestrian crossings have been redesigned as well.
"This is being funded from the Department of Transport and is classified funding basically to ensure that the trams continue to run – but the bigger picture is to continue to pursue our aspirations to extend the tramway.
"Obviously we've been working over the winter in conditions which can be challenging and the intention is to get it completed as quickly as possible.
"The track has been replaced and upgraded in sections over the years – a piece of track can last 20 years –but this is a really big upgrade.
"There's already been quite a bit of investment on northern sections of the track, north of the borough's boundary, where there's been quite a large amount invested in renewing the track.
"Sections have been done on a piecemeal basis over the years, because the track wears like that, just as a road does, in areas where the trams apply the brakes, or where they turn the points.
"In transport terms the tramway itself was a hell of an achievement and remains so – we intend to honour that spirit.
"It was the first electric tramway in the country, which was in itself a fantastic achievement. And if you consider what it has stood up to in excess of 150 years, it is phenomenal.
"And what's also worth remembering is that it continued to operate successfully throughout a period when tramways were totally out of fashion - and it was the only one running.
"Long may it continue."
l TRAMS arrived in Blackpool in 1885 when the Blackpool Electric Tramway Company started operations. This was the first electric street tramway in Britain – and the first in the world. The original trams used a different system (conduit) to the overhead lines introduced in 1899. The tramway was taken over by Blackpool Corporation in 1892.

jacqui.morley@blackpoolgazette.co.uk