Here are the roadworks / diversions for across Liverpool for the coming few weeks. Main points include:

• Scottish Power are installing a new 132KV cable along Goree / George’s Dock Gates / New Quay (from Water Street to Bath Street) until 24th October. This will result in a northbound lane restriction each night between the hours of 6.30pm and 6am the following morning.
• Fujitsu / Virgin Media ducting works are ongoing on Great Homer Street at Wilbraham Street under temporary traffic signals until 28th October.
• Flynn Construction works associated with water mains connections on Grove Street at the junction with Oxford Street mean temporary traffic signals until 23rd October.
• National Grid Gas will be carrying out gas main renewal works on High Street, Woolton under a lane restriction from 22nd October until 30th October.
• Flynn Construction will be undertaking a road crossing for a water mains connection on Holt Road near to the junction with Kensington under temporary traffic signals on the 23rd October.
• Lovell’s will be carrying out footway and kerbing works on Kensington (Holt Road to Gilead St) under a nearside inbound lane restriction from 6.30pm 21st October until 6.30pm 23rd October.
• Drainage works in the bus layover area in Liverpool One Bus Station will be carried out under a closure from 24th to 30th October.
• Enterprise-Liverpool will be undertaking the reconstruction of the roundabout island in Mann Island and carriageway resurfacing works under a road closure from 31st October to 13th November.
• Gas main renewal works by the Gas Alliance on Mill Lane / Beresford Road will take place under temporary traffic signals until 26th October.
• Gas main renewal works by the Gas Alliance on Park Road / Beresford Road will take place under temporary traffic signals from 5th to 12th November.
• Resurfacing works by Enterprise-Liverpool are ongoing on Queens Drive until 4th November, on the section between Townsend Lane and Stuart Road (Sefton boundary). A contra-flow will be in operation with traffic traveling in a single lane in each direction only.
• Enterprise-Liverpool are continuing with resurfacing works on Regent Road (Bankfield Road to Dacre Street) until 27th November. Lane restrictions will be in operation.
• Temporary 2-way traffic signals are in operation until 25th November on Sandhills Lane whilst Network Rail undertakes advance works to the railway bridge prior to its replacement later on in 2011.
• From 21st to 26th October United Utilities will be renewing a water main across the northbound carriageway of Scotland Road (in-between Leeds Street and the Kingsway tunnel slip-road) under a lane restriction. Over the weekend of 22nd / 23rd October, only a single northbound lane will be available through the works.
• From 17th October for up to 16 weeks Wrenco will be undertaking kerbing and footway works on Upper Parliament Street between Amberley Street and Princes Road, in advance of the introduction of a bus lane. This will result in an inbound nearside lane restriction.
• Enterprise-Liverpool will be undertaking traffic signal slot-cutting works along the Upper Parliament Street / Smithdown Road route under off-peak lane restrictions until 6th November.
• National Grid Gas emergency works to repair a gas leak have resulted in Waterloo Road being closed between Roberts Street and the roundabout junction with Bath Street. This closure will be in place until 31st October.
• Virgin Media ducting works on Westminster Road / Barlows Lane will mean off-peak lane restrictions on 24th October.
• Drainage works by Enterprise-Liverpool will result in localised work areas along Whitechapel, between Sir Thomas Street and Church Street, until December 2011.
• Aztec Civils will be installing ducting on Woolton Street, Woolton under “Stop & Go” traffic control on 22nd to 23rd October.

Events

• Remembrance Sunday – 13th November
  The following road closures will be in place during the times indicated:- (a) Lime Street (between Commutation Row and St. George’s Place); & Lord Nelson Street (between Hotham Street and Lime Street) between 10.30 a.m. and 12 noon; (b) William Brown Street (its entire length) between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m.; (c) St. Johns Lane (its entire length); St. George’s Place (its entire length); Queens Square (its entire length); Old Haymarket (between Byrom Street and St. Johns Lane/Preston Street); and Lime Street (at its junction with Elliot Street) between 10 a.m. and 12 noon; & (d) Church Road, Mason Street (West Derby), Clarendon Road, Woolton Road (Garston), West Derby Village, Town Row, Almonds Green and Mill Lane (West Derby) between 10.15 a.m. and 12 noon.
• BBC Production - Filming of “Savage” – Sunday 23rd October
  Old Hall Street, between Edmund Street and Chapel Street, will be closed from 12noon until 8pm.

Roads Affected by Works / Events
Childwall Road / Edge Lane West / Goree, George’s Dock Gates, New Quay / Great Homer Street / Grove Street / Hall Lane / High Street, Woolton / Holt Road / Kensington / Leeds Street, Byrom Street, King Edward Street, Wapping, Parliament St, St Anne Street / Liverpool One Bus Station / London Road / Mann Island / Melwood Drive / Mill Lane & Beresford Road / Naylor’s Road & Wheathill Road / Park Road & Beresford Road / Queens Drive / Regent Road / Sandhills Lane / Scotland Road / Smithdown Road / Speke Road / Upper Parliament Street / Walton Road / Waterloo Road / Westminster Road & Barlows Lane / Whitechapel / Woolton Street / Various roads for events

Read the rest of this entry »

Here are the roadworks and diversions updates for Liverpool this week. Main points include:

• Ongoing works associated with the Edge Lane (West) scheme will mean an outbound lane restriction between Jubilee Drive and Quorn Street from Friday 7th October (after morning peak) until Sunday 9th October. Jubilee Road will be closed at the junction with Edge Lane for resurfacing works from 8th to 9th October.
• Overnight resurfacing will result in the following closures; Edge Lane (Inbound from Innovation Boulevard to Durning Road) – 10th to 15th October (7pm to 6am each night). Durning Road and Holt Road (from Edge Lane for 40m) – 6am 15th to 6am 17th October.
• Scottish Power will be installing a new 132KV cable along Goree / George’s Dock Gates / New Quay (from Water Street to Bath Street) from 10th October until 24th October. This will result in a northbound lane restriction each night between the hours of 6.30pm and 6am the following morning.
• Flynn Construction will be undertaking works associated with water mains connections on Grove Street at the junction with Oxford Street under temporary traffic signals, from 10th to 23rd October.
• Flynn Construction will be undertaking a road crossing for a water mains connection on Holt Road near to the junction with Kensington under temporary traffic signals on the 23rd October.
• Lovell’s will be carrying out footway and kerbing works on Kensington (Holt Road to Gilead St) under a nearside inbound lane restriction from 6.30pm 7th October until 6.30pm 8th October and again from 6.30pm 21st October until 6.30pm 23rd October.
• Traffic Signals Civils will be carrying out a road crossing on behalf of the city on Parliament Street at the junction with Jamaica Street under off-peak lane restrictions from 10th to 14th October.
• Resurfacing works by Enterprise-Liverpool are ongoing on Queens Drive until 4th November, on the section between Townsend Lane and Stuart Road (Sefton boundary). A contra-flow will be in operation with traffic traveling in a single lane in each direction only.
• Enterprise-Liverpool are continuing with resurfacing works on Regent Road (Bankfield Road to Dacre Street) until 27th November. Lane restrictions will be in operation.
• Temporary 2-way traffic signals are in operation until 25th November on Sandhills Lane whilst Network Rail undertakes advance works to the railway bridge prior to its replacement later on in 2011.
• From 21st to 26th October United Utilities will be renewing a water main across the northbound carriageway of Scotland Road (in-between Leeds Street and the Kingsway tunnel slip-road) under a lane restriction. Over the weekend of 22nd / 23rd October, only a single northbound lane will be available through the works.
• Until 30th October a northbound off-peak lane restriction will be in place on Strand Street (on the approach to Mann Island) to enable BAM Construction to complete footway paving works.
• From 17th October for up to 16 weeks Wrenco will be undertaking kerbing and footway works on Upper Parliament Street between Amberley Street and Princes Road, in advance of the introduction of a bus lane. This will result in an inbound nearside lane restriction.
• ELL will be undertaking traffic signal slot-cutting works along the Upper Parliament Street / Smithdown Road  route under off-peak lane restrictions from 3rd to 18th October.

Roads Affected by Works / Events
Childwall Road / Edge Lane West / Goree, George’s Dock Gates, New Quay / Grove Street / Hall Lane / High Street, Woolton / Holt Road / Kensington / King Edward Street / Leeds Street area / London Road / Melwood Drive / Naylor’s Road & Wheathill Road / Parliament Street / Queens Drive /  Regent Road / Sandhills Lane / Scotland Road / Smithdown Road / Strand Street / Upper Parliament Street / Walton Road / Various roads for events
Childwall Road - BT works near to Childwall 5-ways will mean an off-peak lane restriction on 10th October.

Read the rest of this entry »

Here’s the latest roadworks and diversions update for Liverpool.

Main points include:

• Ongoing works associated with the Edge Lane (West) scheme will mean an outbound lane restriction between Jubilee Drive and Quorn Street from Friday 30th (after morning peak) until Sunday 2nd October. Jubilee Road will be closed at the junction with Edge Lane for resurfacing works from 8th to 9th October.
• Overnight resurfacing will result in the following closures; Edge Lane (Inbound from Innovation Boulevard to Durning Road) – 10th to 16th October (7pm to 6am each night). Durning Road (from Edge Lane for 40m) – 15th to 16th October (7pm to 6am each night).
• Flynn Construction will be undertaking works associated with water mains connections on Grove Street at the junction with Oxford Street under temporary traffic signals, from 10th to 23rd October.
• Flynn Construction will be undertaking a road crossing for a water mains connection on Holt Road near to the junction with Kensington under temporary traffic signals on the 2nd October.
• Traffic Signals Civils will be carrying out a road crossing on behalf of the city on Parliament Street at the junction with Jamaica Street under off-peak lane restrictions from 10th to 14th October.
• Resurfacing works by Enterprise-Liverpool are ongoing on Queens Drive until 4th November, on the section between Townsend Lane and Stuart Road (Sefton boundary). A contra-flow will be in operation with traffic traveling in a single lane in each direction only.
• Enterprise-Liverpool are carrying out resurfacing works on Regent Road (Bankfield Road to Dacre Street) until 27th November. Lane restrictions will be in operation.
• Temporary 2-way traffic signals are in operation until 3rd October on Sandhills Lane whilst Network Rail undertakes advance works to the railway bridge prior to its replacement later on in 2011.
• Scottish Power cabling works on Speke Boulevard at the junction with Banks Road will result in lane restrictions from 1st to 2nd October.
• Until 8th October a northbound off-peak lane restriction will be in place on Strand Street (on the approach to Mann Island) to enable BAM Construction to complete footway paving works.
• ELL will be undertaking traffic signal slot-cutting works along the Upper Parliament Street / Smithdown Road  route under off-peak lane restrictions from 3rd to 18th October.

 Events

Liverpool Marathon – 9th October 2011

The whole waterfront route will be closed from Leeds St to Sefton St (except for access to Liverpool One Q-Park and hotels, which will be accommodated from Leeds Street / Gt Howard St direction only). Other key closures are:-

Brook Street, Old Hall Street (except for access to the Radisson hotel from Leeds St), Chapel St (except for access to the Atlantic Hotel from George’s Dock Gates), Rumford St, Water St, Castle St, James St, Parliament St, Upper Parliament St (from Gt George St to Catherine St), Princes Road, Princes Avenue, Croxteth Road, Ullet Road (Aigburth Road to Sydhenham Ave), Croxteth Drive, Mossley Hill Drive, Aigburth Drive (a clockwise route around Sefton Park from Queens Dr to Ullet Rd will be maintained), Belvidere Road, Devonshire Road.

Roads Affected by Works / Events
Castle Street / Eaton Road / Edge Lane West / Grove Street / Hall Lane / Holt Road / Horrocks Avenue / King Edward Street / Leeds Street / London Road / Melwood Drive / Parliament Street / Queens Drive / Park Road / Regent Road / Sandhills Lane / Sheil Road / Smithdown Road / Speke Boulevard / Strand Street / Upper Parliament Street / Walton Road / Various roads for events

Read the rest of this entry »

Here’s the latest roadworks and diversions for Liverpool.

Main points include:

• Ongoing works associated with the Edge Lane (West) scheme will mean an outbound lane restriction between Jubilee Drive and Quorn Street from Friday 23rd (after morning peak) until Sunday 25th September. Jubilee Road will be closed at the junction with Edge Lane for resurfacing works from 8th to 9th October.
• BT cabling works on London Road (near to Seymour Street) until 2nd October will mean off-peak lane restrictions.
• Resurfacing works by Enterprise-Liverpool are ongoing on Queens Drive until 4th November, on the section between Townsend Lane and Stuart Road (Sefton boundary). A contra-flow will be in operation with traffic traveling in a single lane in each direction only.
• Scottish Power will be installing a new electricity supply to an a new development on Park Road at the junction with Northumberland Street from 23rd to 30th September, under temporary traffic signals.
• Enterprise-Liverpool are carrying out resurfacing works on Regent Road (Bankfield Road to Dacre Street) until 27th November. Lane restrictions will be in operation.
• Temporary 2-way traffic signals are in operation until 3rd October on Sandhills Lane whilst Network Rail undertakes advance works to the railway bridge prior to its replacement later on in 2011.
• Scottish Power cabling works on Speke Boulevard at the junction with Banks Road will result in lane restrictions from 1st to 2nd October.
• Until the end of September a northbound off-peak lane restriction will be in place on Strand Street (on the approach to Mann Island) to enable BAM Construction to complete footway paving works.

Events

• Labour Party Conference – 25th to 29th September 2011
  Echo Arena / waterfront area.
• Liverpool Marathon – 9th October 2011
  Extensive city centre closures and route to and from Sefton Park via Upper Parliament Street.

Roads Affected by Works / Events
Allerton Road / Byrom Street / Castle Street / Edge Lane West / Hall Lane / King Edward Street / Leeds Street / London Road / Longmoor Lane / Melwood Drive / Park Road / Queens Drive / Regent Road / Sandhills Lane / Sheil Road / Smithdown Lane / Speke Boulevard / Strand Street / Walton Road / Various roads for events

Read the rest of this entry »

Walrus is the name of a new Smartcard which will allow public transport users, as well as day trippers to the city, to use a single card for all their journeys.

Neil Scales, Chief Executive of Merseytravel, said; “This launch signals a revolution in the way people pay for and use public transport. I believe Walrus will play a fundamental role in encouraging and inspiring local people and visitors to fully enjoy the economic, cultural, heritage and leisure experience this area has to offer, and in time become an important part of the identity of the region.

“Walrus will see the widest range of uses of any Smartcard in the country being fully integrated into all our varied forms of transport and ticketing, ultimately saving our customers time and money. We are aiming towards a network where people pass seamlessly through our stations and ferry terminals, while also being able to board buses and even buy a coffee.

“In London less than 2% of public transport journeys are paid for in cash, and while cash will always be an option, Walrus will be a far more convenient option for customers, drivers and operators alike.

“This is the first card of its type in the UK, encompassing both transport AND non-transport related products, and I believe this will revolutionise the way we travel in and enjoy this fantastic region and all it has to offer.”

Walrus is launched this weekend with the first products switching to the Smartcard versions. From today, passengers who renew their annual all-zone Trios can receive the Walrus card instead of the paper version we currently issue.

From Spring 2012 further products will be converted, with the full “pay as you go” card available from Summer 2013.

Mersey Ferry service update

On Thursday 15 and Saturday 17 September 2011 Mersey Ferry sailings between Liverpool and Wirral will be disrupted due to the current temporary berthing facilities at the cruise liner terminal being unavailable because of visiting cruise liners

Queen Mary 2 and Mein Schiff.

Commuter services and River Explorer cruises will still be operated by Mersey Ferries - Commuters will be able to board at Seacombe and travel to Woodside, from where passengers wishing to cross the river can use Merseyrail services from Hamilton Square to James Street and vice versa. Hourly River Explorer cruises will operate from Wirral and tickets will be accepted on trains between Hamilton Square and James Street Stations on these dates.

A new state of the art Mersey Ferries landing stage is currently under construction, scheduled to open in late autumn 2011 and Mersey Ferries are currently operating from the Liverpool Cruise Liner facility at Princes Parade, a short walk from the Pier Head Ferry Terminal.

The Pier Head Ferry Terminal building, including the Beatles Story, H Coffee and Matou will all remain open for business.

For regular updates on the ferry services passengers can sign up for email or text alerts by sending an email with “commuter alerts” in the subject line, and email address or mobile phone number to customerservices@merseyferries.co.uk.

The Campaign for High Speed Rail will be at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool (25-29 September 2011). They will have a stand for people to learn more about the benefits of High Speed Rail (HSR), plus they will be hosting an event. 

The event details are as follows:

Railways: operating more efficiently and delivering an increase in capacity through HSR

This year, Transport Times is collaborating with FirstGroup and Bechtel to produce Rail Fringe events at all three main political party conferences.  All fringe events are free of charge and are located outside the secure zone so attendees will not require a pass to attend.

Labour Conference event
Wednesday 28 September, 13.15 - 14.30
Hilton Hotel, Grace Suite 2, 3 Thomas Steers Way, Liverpool, L1 8LW
Speakers: Maria Eagle MP, Shadow Transport Secretary; Lord Adonis, Director, Institute for Government; Tim O’Toole, Chief Executive, FirstGroup & Chairman, Rail Delivery Group;Lawrie Quinn, Delivery Manager – Rail Projects, Bechtel (chair); Prof David Begg, Director, Campaign for High Speed Rail.

There’s no need to book. Just turn up and learn more about this issue and have your say.

Liverpool Central to see major improvements

Liverpool’s five underground stations are to get a £40 million plus overhaul over the next few years starting with £20 million improvements to Central Station.

The work will improve access, particularly for disabled passengers and those with luggage or children in buggies, improve the passenger flow at platform level and generally refurbish all passenger areas.

It includes:

• an additional lift
• new escalators to the Northern Line platform
• additional platform space
• new, brighter cladding on the platform walls
• larger and improved toilet facilities and waiting areas

The work in the concourse area will build on the recently completed MtoGo unit in the ticket hall. The walls and ceiling will have new, brighter cladding, the flooring will be renewed and there will lots of natural light as a clear glazed roof and glass external walls will be constructed. When the project is completed Liverpool Central will have undergone a complete refurbishment of all areas.

Bart Schmeink, Merseyrail’s Managing Director said: “Liverpool Central is the busiest station on the network and should be Merseyrail’s flagship station but as we all know, it certainly isn’t in its present state. This major overhaul is long overdue and the inevitable inconvenience of closing the station whilst the work is carried out will be well worth the wait. By autumn 2012 Liverpool Central will be a very pleasant place to catch your train. Liverpool Central will be fit to serve a city that itself has gone onward and upward over the last few years.”

Jo Kaye, Route director of Network Rail which is providing the bulk of the funding for the work, said precise dates are not yet available because contracts for the work have not been let but the station is expected to be closed from April to August next year (2012).

She said: ” The announcement is being made now to give passengers advanced notice that Central station will have to close for about four months while the improvements are made. With the number of people who use the station every day already making the platforms very crowded, it is simply impossible to carry out work on this scale and keep the station open. Train services will operate as normal - but they will pass through the station without stopping.”

Councillor Mark Dowd, chair of Merseytravel, said: ”I have campaigned long for these improvements because, quite simply, Liverpool Central is no longer fit for purpose. I have already warned it is approaching a situation where it will become dangerous to the travelling public. Without this development it would only be a matter of time before someone was hurt.”

Neil Scales, chief executive of Merseytravel, added: ”We are drawing up plans for alternative bus services for the duration of the work to minimise inconvenience to commuters and to shoppers.”

Liverpool city centre will remain fully accessible to shoppers and commuters through James Street, Moorfields and Lime Street stations

A frequent bus shuttle will operate to ensure the area around Liverpool Central can be reached easily by passengers using the three other city centre stations

Full extent of the works at Liverpool Central is:

• Improved larger staff accommodation at the back of the station
• Installation of a new lift adjacent to the current lift at Liverpool Central
• Replace escalators
• Relocate plant room to free up platform space
• Install platform edge gates
• Replace cladding
• Replace floor coverings
• Replace directional fire signage
• Relocate fire doors

Here are the latest roadworks and diversions update for the city’s roads. Main points include:

• Scottish Power works to repair an electricity cable fault on Chaloner Street (between Sefton Street and Queens Wharf) will result in an off-peak lane restriction from the 6th to 13th September.
• Ongoing works associated with the Edge Lane (West) scheme will mean an outbound lane restriction between Jubilee Drive and Quorn Street from Friday 2nd (after morning peak) until Sunday 4th September. This operation will be repeated for a further 3 weekends following this.
• Carriageway reconstruction and resurfacing works by Enterprise-Liverpool on Great Howard Street (Leeds Street to Blackstone Street) are ongoing until 5th September will mean lane restrictions and overnight closures at certain junctions. Works to rectify damage from an over-riding crane to the newly laid footway on the section between Lightbody Street and Sherwood Street will result in an inbound lane restriction from 5th September to 16th September.
• An inbound lane restriction on Kensington at the junction with Low Hill will be required on the 3rd to 4th, and 10th to 11th September to facilitate the completion of footway works at this junction.
• Resurfacing works on Queens Drive by Enterprise-Liverpool will commence on 30th August until 4th November, on the section between Townsend Lane and Stuart Road (Sefton boundary). A contra-flow will be in operation with traffic traveling in a single lane in each direction only.
• Enterprise-Liverpool will also be carrying out resurfacing works on Regent Road (Bankfield Road to Dacre Street) from 5th September to 27th November. Lane restrictions will be in operation.
• Temporary 2-way traffic signals will be in place from 30th August to 3rd October on Sandhills Lane whilst Network Rail undertakes advance works to the railway bridge prior to its replacement later on in 2011.
• Verge maintenance on Speke Boulevard by Enterprise-Liverpool will mean off-peak lane restrictions from 1st to 2nd September.
• From 30th August for 4 weeks, a northbound off-peak lane restriction will be in place on Strand Street (on the approach to Mann Island) to enable BAM Construction to complete footway paving works.
• The Mathew Street Music Festival will underway in the city centre over the coming Bank Holiday weekend. Extensive city centre road closures will be in place.

Roads Affected by Works / Events
Allerton Road / Castle Street / Chaloner Street /Childwall 5-ways roundabout & Childwall Road / Edge Lane West / Great Howard Street / Hall Lane / Melwood Drive / Queens Drive / Regent Road / Speke Boulevard / Strand Street / The Rocket, M62 / Townsend Lane / Wavertree Road / Various roads for events

Read the rest of this entry »

The Mathew Street Music Festival, takes place over the August bank holiday weekend. Some roads will be closed and as a result many bus routes in the city centre will be changed, with temporary bus stops being put in place.

Queen Square Bus Station will be closed from first bus on Sunday 28 August through to last bus on Monday 29 August. However, Night Buses 150, N5, N23, N37, N51 and N450 will run from Stands 9, 10 and 12 as usual on Sunday and Monday mornings.

Bus stops in James Street, Lord Street, Victoria Street, Cook Street, Dale Street and Sir Thomas Street will be out of use on Sunday and Monday.

Cross River buses will run to and from Liverpool ONE Bus Station only - they will not pick up at any other bus stops in the city centre. Routes 71 and 72 will only run between Birkenhead (Woodside) and Heswall only, so will not serve Liverpool.

You can catch your buses from stops in Liverpool ONE Bus Station, Great Charlotte Street, Elliot Street, temporary bus stops on Lime Street (outside St George’s Hall) or Brownlow Hill.

For more information please pick up a leaflet at any Merseytravel Travel Centre, visit www.merseytravel.gov.uk – (bus alerts) or call Traveline on 0871 200 22 33.

Trains on the Merseyrail Northern and Wirral Lines will be running to special timetables on Sunday 28 and Monday 29 August:

In agreement with the local authorities and the Police:

• James Street station will be closed on Sunday 28 and Monday 29 August;
• Wirral Line trains will only be stopping at some Liverpool city centre stations;
• Trains will be running to special timetables.

Chester and Ellesmere Port lines: trains will not be stopping at James Street or Liverpool Central stations. You can only board these trains at Moorfields and Liverpool Lime Street stations. On Monday 29 August, trains will be running to a Sunday timetable but with an earlier start time.

New Brighton and West Kirby lines: trains will not be stopping at James Street or Moorfields stations. You can only board these trains at Liverpool Central and Liverpool Lime Street stations. On Monday 29 August, trains will be running to a Sunday timetable but with an earlier start time.

Hunts Cross and Southport line: on Monday 29 August, trains will run to a Saturday timetable.

Kirkby and Ormskirk lines: on Monday 29 August, trains will run to a Sunday timetable but with an earlier start time.

Please check your train times before you travel. Full timetables are available to download from either the Merseyrail or Merseytravel websites; from National Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50 or from your local station.