New pictures have showed the extent of the work being undertaken to install an additional railway track for the Headbolt Lane station project.
County Road in Kirkby has been closed to vehicles during the school summer holidays to allow Network Rail to install the track as part of the £80m project. Network Rail has closed the major road between St Kevins Drive and Headbolt Lane while engineers replace the existing bridge over County Road.
The road, which will continue to be accessible for pedestrians and cyclists, was closed on Saturday, July 23 and will remain so until August 30. Knowsley Council said it hopes the impact on traffic will be reduced during the school holidays.
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The work is part of the new Headbolt Lane station project being delivered via a partnership between Network Rail, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Knowsley Council. The station will extend the existing Merseyrail service beyond Kirkby to improve transport links for the Northwood and Tower Hill areas of Kirkby as well as for Knowsley Business Park.
Northern Rail services from Manchester and Wigan will operate to and from the new three-platform station which is also designed to support any future plans to build a rail link to Skelmersdale.
The full plans will see a new station building, a double-track railway bridge over County Road, a car park and a new station access road.
Images taken by the ECHO today revealed the first steps being taken by Network Rail engineers to replace the existing bridge. Heavy machinery, scaffolding and extensive road closure signage can be seen in place.
Cllr Liam Robinson, Transport Portfolio Holder for the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, said: “We’re very grateful for the patience that local residents are showing during the works to build the new station at Headbolt Lane. While we understand that this road closure will be disruptive to residents, the end result will be a huge positive for the local community in the form of better links to the local rail network, making it easier for residents to travel for education, work and leisure.
“This will be another step on our journey towards Mayor Steve Rotheram’s ambition of building a London-style transport system for our region, making getting around as quick, cheap, clean and reliable wherever you live.”
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