£22M Road Scheme Kicks Into Gear

A £22m scheme to complete a dual carriageway on a major route into Liverpool city centre enters an important phase this week.

The scheme involves widening the A565 (Great Howard Street/Derby Road) to create a new dual carriageway. The route, which handles traffic between Sefton and Liverpool, along coastal Merseyside, is seen as a critical element of a major regeneration drive in the area.

Letters are to be issued today (Thursday, 6 October) notifying those affected by the road widening that Liverpool City Council is seeking to acquire land to ensure the new 2.7km long stretch is created in the city’s Atlantic corridor. This is part of a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) process, however both Sefton and Liverpool City Council hope to reach agreement with stakeholders regarding compensation.

Work could begin as early as Spring 2017 and will pave the way for a major revamp of the historic Regent Road – aka “the Dock Road” – to make that more pedestrian and cycle friendly.

Lane restrictions rather than a road closure will be deployed to minimise disruption on the A565, which is also currently having a new £10m bridge created that will enable freight to travel to and from the new £400m Liverpool2 deep water container terminal.

The £22m scheme, which includes improved paving, traffic signals and street lighting, will complete as follows:

• Phase 1 - between King Edward Street and Blackstone Street – new dual carriageway section

• Phase 2 – between Bankhall Street to Millers Bridge - new dual carriageway section

• Phase 3 - Improvements to Regent Road – new cycle and pedestrian facilities

Expected to finish by Spring 2019, the works are part of Liverpool City Council’s wider £250m Better Roads programme to improve the city’s road infrastructure.

Councillor Malcom Kennedy, Liverpool’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said: “Making the A565 a full dual carriageway is going to make travelling to and from north Liverpool a much more pleasurable experience for millions of journeys every year.

‘’I’m especially excited by the fact that this scheme will give Regent Road a completely new lease of life and will further accelerate the regeneration in our Atlantic corridor – which is vital to the future economy of Liverpool, the city region and the north of England.’’

Cllr John Fairclough, Sefton Council’s cabinet member locality services, added: “This is just the start of a very exciting project which will enhance the main route into Liverpool from south Sefton.

“This stretch of road is extremely busy and by making it all dual carriageway, it will enable greater access in and out of Sefton for all vehicles.

“Discussions are underway with the landowners in Sefton and throughout the whole process we will be working closely with Liverpool City Council to make this project a big success.”