People travelling through Liverpool city centre over the coming weeks are being encouraged to plan their journeys in advance as temporary traffic management measures are introduced to support the safe delivery of this year’s River of Light festival.
The measures include a series of road closures on Water Street and ongoing changes to rail services due to major engineering works on the Merseyrail network.
The temporary road closures will enable event teams to safely build and remove installations for River of Light, while also helping to protect visitors attending the free event.
Please note that Great Howard Street is also currently closed northbound due to emergency electrical works by Scottish Power.
Water Street closures
To allow for the safe installation of River of Light artworks, Dale Street/Water Street, between Exchange Street East and Lower Castle Street will be closed from 8am on Sunday 18 October until 8pm on Tuesday 20 October.
The same section of road will close again to facilitate the safe removal of artworks from 8am on Monday 2 November until 8pm Tuesday 3 November.
During the event itself, Dale Street will be closed to general traffic from Byrom Street to Water Street where it meets The Strand, along with the side streets onto Water Street. These closures will be in place from 5pm to 9pm each evening from Friday 23 October to Sunday 1 November.
The side streets include:
- Lower Castle St
- Fenwick St
- Rumford St
- Covent Garden
- Drury Lane
- Tower Gardens
The closures are necessary due to the proximity of the installations to the road and will help ensure the safety of visitors attending the event.
Drivers are advised to allow extra time for their journeys and use alternative routes where possible. Signed diversion routes will be in place during all closures.
Visitors are encouraged to travel by public transport wherever possible.
Merseyrail changes
At the same time that River of Light takes place, major engineering work is being carried out on the Merseyrail Northern Line.
As a result, replacement bus services will operate between Hunts Cross and Moorfields from Monday to Saturday.
Train services will continue to run from Liverpool Central to Southport, Ormskirk, and Headbolt Lane.
Sunday rail services
On Sundays, replacement bus services will operate between Hunts Cross and Sandhills stations.
Train services will run from Sandhills to Southport, Ormskirk, and Headbolt Lane.
Sunday 18 October – Wirral line services will terminate at James Street station, there will be no services calling at Moorfields, Lime Street or Liverpool Central.
Sunday 25 October & 1 November – Replacement bus services will operate between:
- Birkenhead North and Moorfields
- Rock Ferry and Moorfields.
Train services will run between:
- Chester & Ellesmere Port and Rock Ferry
- West Kirby & New Brighton and Birkenhead North.
For the latest public transport travel information, visit www.merseytravel.gov.uk
About River of Light
Running from Friday 23 October to Sunday 1 November, River of Light is a free outdoor light art festival. Each year it attracts tens of thousands of visitors to the city.
This year’s festival, ‘Together’, features installations that focus on how light brings people closer in a joyful way.
There will be 13 installations this year, some of which are celebrating their world premiere.
The artworks will be illuminated nightly from 5pm to 9pm throughout the festival.
With thousands of people expected to attend this year’s event, the best way to travel to and from River of Light is by public transport.
Many of the artworks are within minutes of James Street station, Moorfields station, and Queen Square bus station, with clearly signposted routes as you exit.
