Lime Street traffic shift on target
The latest phase of the City Centre Movement Strategy scheme on Lime Street begins on Sunday, 11th February 2007 with the southbound traffic outside Lime Street Railway Station moving across to its new position on the highway, close to where the central reservation was previously situated.The number of lanes on Lime Street will not change with one lane running northbound past St John's Car Park and two lanes southbound and traffic will still be able to turn left and right out of Skelhorne Street, down the side of the train station.
The shift will take place on Sunday morning to minimise any inconvenience and traffic will be able to use Lime Street in both directions while the change is being put in place. However the works are dependent on good weather and if there is snow on the ground, the new road markings cannot be laid so the work will be postponed with further updates provided.
The £2m CCMS scheme on Lime Street is changing the layout of the road and moving the kerbline on the southbound side of the road, outside Lime Street Railway Station, to where the central reservation is now to make space for improvements to the pavement area outside the main entrance and exit to Lime Street Station and for the proposed underground car park.
The regeneration of this area will improve connections between the train station and the retail quarter of the City Centre.
From Sunday until the end of the scheme in May 2007, the contractor will be laying drainage in the former southbound carriageway, finishing off the kerbline, resurfacing the carriageway, and completing work on traffic islands, new pedestrian crossings and reinstating traffic signals.
The contractor has liaised closely with the Emergency Services, Merseytravel and the Bus Operators and has consulted with St John's Car Park and Shopping Centre and taxi organisations.
Motorists are reminded that travelling on Lime Street northbound between Ranelagh Street and Elliot Street is now illegal as this section is buses and taxis only, and performing a u-turn on Lime Street to access St John's Car Park is also illegal and extremely dangerous. Motorists should follow the signs and access St John's Car Park via Skelhorne Street.
Councillor Peter Millea, Executive Member for Regeneration and Transport, said:
"The City Centre Movement Strategy works on Lime Street are progressing on programme and on budget and we are pleased that the final road layout will be in place from this Sunday.
"We will continue to work closely with businesses, residents and public transport operators in the area and information for motorists appears on the Big Dig website, updated every week."