A radical overhaul of the Liverpool’s road network is set to begin later this year, according to the council.
Phase one of the City Centre Connectivity Scheme, developed in partnership with infrastructure specialists Amey, includes the creation of a ‘bus hub’ in Old Haymarket, an off-street coach park and four new bridges on Canning Dock.
Alterations to major routes on Lime Street, Brownlow Hill, Moorfields and The Strand are also part of the plans, which are estimated to cost around £40m to complete.
With a current provisional start date of summer/autumn, Sonia Smith, Principal Engineer at Amey, told JMU Journalism that phase one has an estimated completion some time in 2020.
The bus hub, to be situated next to the Liverpool entrance of the Queensway Tunnel, will act as a layover for public transport, switching from nearby Queen Square Bus Station to reduce the number of empty buses circulating the streets.
Mrs Smith said: “The bus hub, in conjunction with all the other parts of this proposal, will help to reduce congestion and emissions within the city.”
YouTube: Danny Moxon
But while the scheme as a whole has been welcomed by many, some are objecting to the proposals.
Sarah Lovelock owns Lovelocks café, situated directly across from the car park, and she believes that the layover will have a damaging effect on her business.
She told JMU Journalism: “I’ll probably close down, because they’re basically changing the whole area. I won’t be able to load into my business – it’s a bad idea and it’s just lazy planning.
“It’s a pretty part of Liverpool, protected by UNESCO, and for me what they’re doing is anti-social vandalism.”
The changes to Lime Street, which involve reducing it to one lane, have also attracted criticism from local Liberal Democrats, with Councillors Andrew Makinson and Richard Kemp taking to Twitter to criticise the ideas of the ruling Labour group on Liverpool City Council.
Twitter: @Andrewmakinson
Watch the whole city grind to a halt when a bus breaks down on Lime Street. And another round of bus route changes to match the 82 fiasco.
72% of people consulted opposed this £45M “City Centre Connectivity” Scheme, but Labour councillors think they know better than the people. https://t.co/kuUHGG3ylD— Cllr Andrew Makinson (@Andrewmakinson) March 6, 2018
Twitter: @cllrkemp
And the traffic will just disappear into thin air? Unless the council does more to reintroduce bus and cycle lanes and get people out of their car this will just cause a seizure for traffic around the City Centre. Use the money for those purposes and local schemes. https://t.co/xrKvN7rTek
— Richard Kemp CBE (@cllrkemp) March 7, 2018
More information on the proposed City Centre Connectivity Scheme can be found on the City Council’s website.