Liverpool’s work to revamp a major gateway into the city has scooped a prestigious national award.
The £19 million Hall Lane Strategic Gateway scheme has been named the ‘Infrastructure Project of The Year’ at the 9th annual Builder & Engineer Awards 2012.
The awards – which bring together some of the UK’s brightest construction industry figures to celebrate the stand-out achievements of the past 12 months – took place at Old Trafford Cricket Ground.
Hall Lane beat-off competition from other major schemes across the country, including the Tottenham Court Road Station upgrade and the MediaCity UK footbridge scheme at Salford Quays.
Councillor Tim Moore, Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “The Hall Lane scheme has transformed a key route into the city centre. It has removed one of the worst bottlenecks in the city, and is providing a much better image of Liverpool to visitors as well as a much better environment for the local neighbourhood.
“It’s fantastic that this scheme, which will bring huge benefits to the local community, to commuters and to the wider public for many years to come, has received this national praise.”
Hall Lane, a major arterial route from the M62 to Liverpool city centre, is used by almost 35,000 vehicles everyday. It had suffered from significant congestion and safety issues, bottlenecks and constricted carriageways.
The project, delivered by Liverpool City Council, 2020 Liverpool and Birse Civils, and completed in summer 2011, has helped create a much improved route into the city from the east.
Work included a new dual carriageway, six major junctions, extensive utilities works, and a 400 metre-long, seven-metre-high retaining wall.
The scheme also saw improvements to cycling, public transport and pedestrian routes as well as new controlled pedestrian crossings, new street lighting, CCTV cameras and the planting of new trees.
Judges praised the Liverpool scheme for helping alleviate congestion and improve safety, while removing traffic from residential streets.
Liverpool City Council’s Director for Regeneration, Nick Kavanagh, said: “Creating first-rate gateways into our city centre is an integral part of our regeneration plans, so I’m delighted that our work to improve Hall Lane has been recognised nationally.
“This award is testament to the work we have done, with our partners, to create a more attractive area for visitors and inward investors, improve the local environment, reduce congestion and deliver better road safety.”
The Hall Lane Strategic Gateway scheme was funded by a variety of sources with the bulk coming from the Department for Transport, £1.4m coming from Liverpool City Council and £1.5 million coming from the European Regional Development Fund.
Further information on the annual Builder and Engineer Awards, can be found at www.awards.builderandengineer.co.uk
