The controversial and heavily-delayed revamp of Liverpool's most important city centre gateway is just weeks away from completion.
The scheme to regenerate the area outside Lime Street Station and St George's Hall has encountered plenty of problems. These included the collapse of the main contractor on the project and political opposition to the plans.
The collapse of original contractor NMCN last October caused major delays and meant the iconic city centre area would remain a building site for many more months. But finally the end is in sight.
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Work has been progressing since new contractor Huyton Civils was drafted in to secure the site and carry out essential repairs following NMCN's collapse. In February, a revised plan for the scheme was signed off by the council's cabinet which addressed the project’s previously controversial impact on public transport.
Today Liverpool City Council issued a progress report, stating: "Good progress being made by our contractor HA Civils on the new cycle lane for Lime Street/St Johns Lane and the paved area around St George's Hall Liverpool. Apologies for the inconvenience this scheme is causing. Works are scheduled to complete by the end of July."
News that the scheme should be completed in a matter of weeks will be hugely welcomed by members of the public and business owners in the local area who have had to deal with years of disruption.
Under the changed design for Lime Street, buses will now be able to travel in both directions on Lime Street and there will be enhanced pedestrian crossings, improved cycle facilities, disabled parking facilities and a new bus stop outside the train station. Previous plans for a ‘reflective pool’ water feature have now been scrapped and the scheme will instead incorporate the refurbishment of the Steble Street fountain - situated outside of St George’s Hall.
The image posted by the council on twitter today shows the area outside the famous train station where the reflective pool would have been placed. It will instead provide more pedestrian space.
The contractors are currently completing the pavement areas and cycle lane. This will be followed by resurfacing the roads and some changes to a crossing in the area. New trees will also be planted during this final phase.
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