How long will the gridlock last due to Level Crossing closure and Victoria Road closing on Monday

UPDATE ON 3/11/21

The Ravenmeols/Queens Road crossing is now reopened.

ORIGINAL:

How long will the gridlock last on Shoreside in Formby due to Level Crossing closure and fallen trees and Victoria Road crossing due to close on Monday?

Network Rail are undertaking essential Level Crossing works on Ravenmeols/Queens Road in Formby which started on 29th November and are due to finish on Friday 3rd December if all goes to plan. The works have caused absolute chaos since Monday at peak times with cars queuing and gridlock in all directions not being able to move.

From Monday 6th December until Friday 10th December the Victoria Road level crossing will also be closed for essential Level Crossing works. If the Ravenmeols Crossing is open from Friday, that will all be good but if the works don’t finish, there will be further congestion throughout next week.

The main cause of the congestion is down to Storm Arwen which knocked down over 20 trees on Kirklake Road and a huge tree on St. Luke’s Church Road which has caused the both roads to be closed.

Police have been sat in a police car at the junction of Lifeboat Road stopping cars from going up there due to the dangerous trees that are still unstable. A spokesperson from National Trust Formby said: “Lifeboat Road car park - the access road is still blocked by trees. We’re in contact with Sefton Council who own this section of road to restore access and make it safe.”

A spokesperson from Sefton Council’s Green Sefton department said: “Thank you to our communities for their continued patience as our small Tree and Woodland team work as quickly as they can to respond to more than 100 calls relating to tree damage because of Storm Arwen.”

“Works are being prioritised this week and we are doing all we can alongside contractors to clear, remove and make safe the places that were sadly impacted so severely by the storm.”

“The team do not clear trees from privately owned land, unless they’re blocking a highway, and charges will apply. We would urge private tree owners to make their own arrangements for tree removals during this time of unprecedented demand.”

“It may be some time yet before we are back to normal and everything is cleared up.”

We are hoping that the level crossing will be open from Friday but we will keep you updated on the situation.