It’s a case of back to the future with one way streets in Liverpool CBD to be converted two way traffic thoroughfares.
Northumberland Street and George Street were turned into one way thoroughfares as part of a ringroad system introduced by Liverpool Council in the 1980s.
But this week work has started to prepare the two roads and seven intersections in the Liverpool CBD.
Council says it is part of a plan to alleviate traffic congestion.
Over the next three to four months Liverpool Council will be preparing to put new CBD traffic arrangements in place to help ease congestion, improve safety and reduce travel time for motorists and pedestrians accessing the city centre.
Works will include upgrading intersections and serviceways along George Street and Northumberland Street (between Scott Street/Memorial Ave and Elizabeth Street) before they are converted to a two-way traffic system around the end of May.
The upgrades will include the installation of concrete pram ramps, lighting, kerbing and guttering and new signal lights.
The next step will be then converting Northumberland St and George Street to two way traffic.
Construction work on upgrading serviceways and intersections will happen between 7pm and 5am from Monday to Friday (except Thursday when work will be between 9.30pm-5am) to minimise traffic disruption.
The work is expected to be complete by the end of May when the conversion process will take place.
Liverpool Mayor ned Mannoun said converting two of Liverpool’s most used thoroughfares to two way traffic will provide better access to commercial and retail precincts and public car parks.
“It will also reduce time and distances travelled for people looking to do business in the CBD,” he said.
Approval given after surveys and community consultation
The road conversion and upgrades were approved by Liverpool Council after extensive surveys by traffic consultants and a detailed community consultation process.
Council engaged consultants to plan alternative traffic arrangements after receiving feedback from the community, RMS and police regarding the one way system.
Mayor Mannoun said the community was supportive of the plan to convert Northumberland and George Streets to two way traffic.
“We took a concept plan to the community for feedback during a month-long public consultation period that included letter-box drops to more than 600 business owners and occupants in the city centre,” he said.
“Council also placed information on Liverpool Listens explaining the changes and held two public drop-in sessions at Liverpool Library for people to comment.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“Based on the feedback, council found that the majority of people supported the idea of converting the streets to two-way.”[/social_quote]
Council will erect visual messaging signs and install temporary changed traffic condition notices in the CBD to warn motorists of the changed traffic conditions.
The exact date for the start of two-way conversion will be announced online and in newspapers and social media advertisements.
For more information, visit Liverpool Council’s website link on the work or phone council’s customer contact centre on 1300 362 170.
