It was back in July 2014 that transport schemes in the City Region secured more than £46m from Government as part of the Local Growth Fund to support our ambition to be a freight and logistic hub, make the city centre better connected and drive economic growth.
There is always excitement around the securing of funding – a flurry of welcoming words and descriptions of schemes that will help boost the Liverpool City Region economy and then it goes quiet… or at least it seems.
The detailed nature of transport means that some big infrastructure programmes notoriously take years to plan and deliver, but we do have some definite progress to report.
The Halton Curve which will improve rail links between the Liverpool City Region, Cheshire and North Wales to unlock job and leisure opportunities is due to be complete and operational in 2018 with explanatory work ahead of a full business case being submitted early next year.
The transformation of Newton-le-Willows station into a transport ‘hub’ with a new bus interchange and 400 space park and ride car park is on track for completion in March 2018. Work has already started on the demolition of a nearby school which would form part of the car park. The station revamp will support the development of a freight distribution centre at Parkside as well as benefitting from the boost that electrification will bring, with journeys between Liverpool and Manchester taking as little as 30 minutes.
Meanwhile contractors to carry out improvements on the A5300 Knowsley Expressway are currently being selected to start on site early in the New Year. The scheme will maximise the benefits of the new Mersey Gateway crossing and form part of a strategic freight route, linking key employment sites and cutting congestion and improving journey times
And it’s not just about the big infrastructure; we believe relatively infrastructure ‘light’ projects can make a real difference.
The Knowsley Industrial Park – the largest industrial expanse in the City Region and employing 15,000, is currently undergoing work to capitalise on its already enviable transport connections to SuperPort and the region’s airports. By summer next year people will be able to access it better through public transport and on foot and get around it more easily and safely, making it an even more attractive place to do business.
In the city centre, The Lime Street Gateway scheme at Parker Street Elliot Street is focussed on getting people to and from the station and the shops more easily by foot or on bikes, giving people more choice on how they get around the city centre. People and businesses are currently being asked their views which will feed into the final design before work starts early next year.
All these schemes are all being made possible through the Government’s Local Growth Fund. The logic being that in getting our local connections right for both people and freight, we can link seamlessly into the wider regional and national infrastructure, helping unlock our potential as a key player in the ‘Northern Powerhouse’.
These schemes are just the tip of the iceberg in realising our ambitions. We have a clear strategic transport vision, demonstrated through such things as the City Region’s Transport Plan for Growth and the Long Term Rail Strategy that strengthen our position in getting the investment we need. The momentum to push forward those transport projects that deliver far reaching economic and social benefits, will continue.
Cllr Liam Robinson, Chair, Merseytravel