Consultation to open on Liverpool transport plan
A month-long public consultation on a proposed £45m raft of transport improvements is to be launched in Liverpool this Thursday 6 October.
The Liverpool City Centre Connectivity (LCCC) scheme comprises eight projects designed to reduce traffic congestion and improve the general environment of the city. The projects are:
St George’s Plateau: new event space to be created by reclaiming northbound lanes of Lime Street, increasing current event capacity.
The Strand: New four lane highway, new north-south cycleway, enhanced animation of public space and road enhancements to improve pedestrian links from waterfront to the Commercial District and main retail area.
New City Bus Hub: to be established near Queen Square bus station accompanied by a new bus routing strategy that will cut congestion and pollution.
New City Coach Park, location to be confirmed: new off-street layover facility and rest area for drivers and reduce congestion in the city centre.
New Canning Dock Bridges: four new bridges will be created to link Salthouse Quay (opposite Albert Dock) with Mann Island, opening up land for future development.
New Moorfields entrance: upgrade to the public realm on Moorfields to enhance the quality of arrival in the Commercial District from the station.
Brownlow Hill: Upgraded public realm and new cycle links from Lime Street station to the growing Knowledge Quarter.
Victoria Street/Tithebarn Street: Public realm upgrades plus the introduction of a two-way cycleway between Lime Street and the waterfront via Hatton Garden and Tithebarn Street.
Cllr Malcolm Kennedy, cabinet member for regeneration at Liverpool City Council, said: “Our city centre ‘welcome’ needs a major upgrade to the standard befitting a world class city.
“With a growing residential population, a huge rise in visitor numbers and £10bn of major developments in the pipeline, how we navigate around the city needs a radical re-think in key locations.”
The consultation includes an online survey open until 6 November and a four-day roadshow starting on 11 October. Businesses are invited to have their say, either at a Liverpool BID Company event on 6 October or at a seminar held by Liverpool & Sefton Chamber of Commerce on 10 October.
Let’s hope they don’t create more bottlenecks by closing down roads leading onto the strand?
By Man on bicycle
Thought you were a bike man Man.. It’ll give us new cycle routes on the Strand.. a great improvement! Gets my vote.
By Alfie
Who’s against bike lanes?. I went to a special presentation in the City. My concerns are that the roads leading on to the Strand, will have no or limited access, ie Chapel St, Brunswick etc. Going by the plans we saw this could force all the joining traffic into one street. It’s not just about cars, delivery vehicles needeing access etc. Also when asked several questions from the audience, a wait and see answer was given. Most of the other plans seem okay, but the Strand proposals should be looked at more closely. It is after all a consultation. That’s Whats it all about Alfie.
By Man on bicycle
Liverpool has a great opportunity to become a very cycle-friendly city, a la Copenhagen and Amsterdam.
The haters on this will scoff, but I really believe its true. There’s already a great riverside cycle route that goes all the way from the Albert Dock down to Aigburth. With a real concerted push in the city centre, it could be made massively attractive by cycle (and to tourists!). I think a “wait and see” on wider traffic effects is worth it to potentially acheive this.
By zebith
How many times are they going to throw more money and pricey yorkstone at the Knowledge Quarter?
By Bob Dawson
There’s a big gap up Brownlow Hill Bob where the environment needs a major upgrade to improve the links. . will make a big difference here, and the grotty Mount Pleasant car park area offers a major opportunity for imaginative development. It can’t stay the same forever..
Yes, Man, all needs careful thought on Strand but Zebith is right.
By Alfie
A question was asked about the monitoring of traffic flows on the Strand to measure vehicle numbers and peak times,it can get busy late at night and when special events take place.
It appeared no plans were being made for this, I just hope they get it right.
It will only take one break down or accident to cause major disruption,this is a vital artery in the City, you know what happens when they get blocked.
By Man on bicycle
I think think the city should be planning alternative ways out and around. If you accept The Strand needs to be a nice, safe place for people and help Liverpool reach its potential, you need to also be able to direct people out and around the city at either end without going through the middle… prioritise the centre section for access not through traffic!
You can send traffic up Leeds Street/Islington one way and Upper Parliament Street the other. There’s scope for improving routes out and around the top… At Low Hill, which is now much better, but also Durning Road/Tunnel Road… Needs signage but also more investment at the top of the city… For example traffic to Baltic could be signposted from Edge Lane via Tunnel Road… Improve these routes, reduce the traffic passing through, then access should be easier.
By Alfie
I agree with Alifie; some form of orbital improvement may be required given that Lime Street and the Strand will become constrained. How will traffic disperse? You could model various scenarios until you’re blue in the face. The test will be once everything is implemented.
These proposals would benefit from drawings which define the scheme extents. For example, how much of the Strand will be narrowed? The commonsense thing would be to narrow from Wapping (already two lanes) onward so that you don’t have a funneling effect when traffic is trying to merge from three-two.
By anon
In the long run the city will need signs for Waterfront North and Waterfront South from Edge Lane… They can start by directing Echo Arena and Baltic traffic via Tunnel Road and Upper Parliament Street from Edge Lane. This top of city route is a short hop and Upper Parliament Street is 4 lanes all the way… Start by improving the junctions up there and plan it properly..
Need to crack on with the Strand scheme though it’s too important… Work on the diversions at the same time…
Coaches could come in this way too.. Nice route!
By Alfie