A major transport improvement scheme for the Liverpool City Region was substantially completed over the weekend with the new slip road on the A5300 Knowsley Expressway and A562 Speak Road junction being available to motorists from yesterday morning (Monday, 12 September).
The A5300 Knowsley Expressway and A562 Speke Road provide a crucial link to key established and developing sites such as the 3MG Mersey Multi-Modal Gateway, the Mersey Gateway Project, Liverpool John Lennon Airport, Getrag and Jaguar Land Rover and their supplier park.
The £5.3 million programme has been largely funded from the £232 million Local Growth Fund (with contributions from Knowsley Council) – secured by the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) in March 2014 as part of a Growth Deal submission to Government. The funding will help support the over £500 million of additional investment in the City Region potentially enabling over 30,000 new jobs.
Cllr Mike Murphy, Knowsley’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development, said “The junction at the Knowsley Expressway and Speke Road is one of the most important transport links for Knowsley and for the Liverpool City Region. We identified it was heavily congested and through this programme, this has now been addressed making it easier and faster to transport goods and people.”
The work carried out at this key strategic road junction will reduce severe congestion during peak times and ensure that the junction can meet current and future demand to support economic growth.
Work has included:-
- Adding a continuous flow left slip lane from the A562 (eastbound) to the A5300 (northbound);
- Widening the A5300 (southbound) approach to accommodate a third lane;
- Extending the length of the left turn lane from the A562 (westbound) into Newstead Road; and,
- Installing queue detectors on the south approach to junction (Newstead Road) which provides access to land currently under development.
Cllr Rob Polhill, lead portfolio holder for transport and connectivity for the Liverpool City Region Combined authority said “Today marks completion of the first major transport scheme for the Liverpool City Region, funded through the Growth Deal. The works will enhance connectivity to the Liverpool City Region, as well as supporting the region’s economic growth, which will be a great boost to residents and businesses alike.”
Asif Hamid, Interim Chair of the Liverpool City Region LEP welcomed the investment and said: “Public sector spending on infrastructure to improve connectivity needs to act as a catalyst in securing private sector investment, business success and economic growth. Our Growth Plan identified this particular improvement scheme as it directly supports our freight and logistics ambitions, helping us play our part in unlocking the potential of the ‘Northern Powerhouse.”