?107m Liverpool roads plan set to get go-ahead
A THREE-YEAR £107m programme to improve Liverpool’s transport system, including plans for the Hall Lane bypass, look set to be approved tomorrow.
The city council’s executive board is being asked to approve plans including starting major works on the long-awaited bypass which has been the subject of years of wrangling.
After more than 20 years of residents’ campaigning, work will finally start on the new road link-ing Islington to West Derby Street, instead of cars being forced down narrow and congested Hall Lane.
Original plans for the bypass were thrown into doubt when plans for the building of a new Royal hospital appeared to clash with the planned route.
But, after a lengthy stalemate, council leader Warren Bradley negotiated a compromise which allowed both to go ahead.
The cabinet will be asked to give the go-ahead to the £12.5m road which will create a much improved route between the end of the M62 at Edge Lane and the centre. They will be asked to approve the Tran-sport Capital Programme up to 2011 which will attract funding from the Department for Tran-sport. This amounts to £30.4m over the three years but will be used to attract funding from the European Regional Development Fund, the Northwest Regional Development Agency and other bodies.
Other schemes in the programme include a study into the Speke/ Halewood southern approach and Atlantic Avenue in Sefton.
Road safety schemes will take place across the city, improvements to the cycle network and initiatives to improve street lighting.
Cllr Mike Storey, executive member for regeneration, said: “It is vital that we get the city’s infra-structure right to support its regen-eration and this programme will ensure important schemes are carried out. It will lever in millions of pounds into the city and benefit all forms of transport users.”
Daily Post
