TRANSPORT chiefs with Liverpool City Council are urging people to have their say about a major new road scheme that will reduce congestion, open up the city’s waterfront and create jobs.
Work on Phase Two of the Liverpool City Centre Connectivity Scheme is set to begin this summer. The £20m plan will see two new roads created off Waterloo Road and Regent Road to the north west of the city centre, by 2021.
And the council is launching a three week consultation from tomorrow (Wednesday, 6 June) to get the views of residents and businesses.
The new roads will address the current and anticipated future traffic congestion in the area – with a planned new Cruise Terminal to go live after the scheme is completed – and will also improve access to the city’s World Heritage waterfront, including the new Isle of Man Ferry Terminal.
The scheme, which complements the £32m upgrade to Leeds Street, the A565 (Great Howard Street) and Regent Road, has been split into two new ‘link’ roads.
The South Link Road, which is currently going through the planning process, will become a key route from Leeds Street to the new developments along the dock front, whilst the North Link Road, which already has planning approval, will provide access to new developments on West Waterloo Dock.
There will be a 20mph speed restriction on the North Link Road along with other traffic calming measures, to prevent vehicles speeding.
Work on Phase One of the City Centre Connectivity Plan is also expected to begin this summer. This project is split into eight developments all aimed at encouraging more people to choose walking and cycling for short journeys. They include a new ‘gateway’ into the city from Lime Street and an events space on St George’s Plateau, a new bus hub and improved links for pedestrians and cyclists between the main shopping areas and the waterfront.
Both phases form part of the council’s £300m Better Roads programme and feed into the masterplan for the Atlantic Corridor, which includes the Ten Streets creativity hub and runs parallel to Peel’s £5.5bn Liverpool Waters scheme.
As part of the consultation a public information event will take place on Wednesday 13 June, between 10am and 7pm in the Salisbury Room, on the first floor of The Crowne Plaza on Nicholas Street. The event is open to all and will be a chance to view the plans and speak with council officers and the consulting engineers for the scheme.
Residents and businesses directly affected by the works have also been sent a special questionnaire about the project.
Councillor James Noakes, Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport and Highways, said: “These are exciting plans that will prepare the city for future growth, increased visitor numbers and a move towards improved travel options for people.
“Liverpool’s popularity as a destination for people to work, visit and enjoy is ever-increasing and we have to make sure that our infrastructure can cope with future demand. We want to make travel and transport around the city as easy and convenient as possible. Crucially, by providing improved access to the waterfront area we are directly contributing to the anticipated created of more than 20,000 jobs over the next 10 years.”
Cllr Noakes added: “Inevitably, as with any major highways scheme, there will be a certain amount of disruption to city centre life but the long-term benefits of this scheme – especially for our plans for North Liverpool and Ten Streets – cannot be overstated.
“The views of all residents and businesses are extremely important and will play an important part in our decision-making process as the schemes progress. This is why we are opening up the plans and giving people a chance to speak with the team and have their say.”
- For more information about the Liverpool City Centre Connectivity Scheme and other projects in the Better Roads programme, visit: liverpool.gov.uk/betterroads