Public transport users have been warned of potential disruption due to planned road closures around Eurovision.
Tens of thousands of people are expected to travel to Liverpool in a matter of days when the city hosts the Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of Ukraine. With the Eurovision Festival, the Eurovision Song Contest Turquoise Carpet event and the National Lottery’s Big Eurovision Welcome, there is much to see before the contest itself.
Merseytravel has warned that as a result, the public transport and road network across the region is going to be "busier than usual" as they added: "We want everyone to enjoy this fantastic occasion, so we’re working with transport operators and partners, including local authorities and emergency services, to put arrangements in place to help make sure people can travel around the region smoothly and safely."
READ MORE: Pub forced to close after 'serious assault' leaves staff shaken
Urging people to plan ahead, they have warned that national industrial action announced by ASLEF on May 12 and the RMT on May 13 on mainline rail services operating from Liverpool Lime Street station may affect your journey.
Today, April 30, it was confirmed that Mount Pleasant will be closed from the junction of Brownlow Hill to the end of the Mountford Hall Bus Layby from Tuesday, May 2 until Monday, May 15 2023. The closure is expected to be in place for 13 days.
Arriva North West Tweeted: "From 02/05 until 15/05, Mount Pleasant in Liverpool will be closed from junction of Brownlow Hill to end of Mountford Hall Bus layby due to road closures for ESC 2023. Service 699 will divert on both weekdays and weekends."
A number of bus routes will be impacted as a result. These include:
Route 699 (Monday to Friday Daytime) will travel from Brownlow Hill, opposite the Adelphi (not Mount Pleasant, Mountford Hall) then via Brownlow Hill, Mount Pleasant, Oxford Street to resume normal route to Greenbank, Student Village (omitting a section of Mount Pleasant).
Route 699 (Monday to Friday Daytime) will travel from Greenbank, Student Village to Brownlow Hill, then this service will continue via Brownlow Hill to opposite the Adelphi (omitting Mount Pleasant).
Route 699 (Evenings and Weekends) will travel as normal from Great Charlotte Street to Brownlow Hill then via the Mount Pleasant, Oxford Street and resume normal route to Greenbank, Student Village (omitting a section of Brownlow Hill and Mount Pleasant).
Route 699 (Evenings and Weekends) will travel as normal Greenbank, Student Village to Brownlow Hill then this service will continue via Brownlow Hill resuming normal route via Ranelagh Street and Elliot Street to Liverpool, Great Charlotte Street (omitting Mount Pleasant).
According to Merseytravel, The Arriva 500 service which runs between Liverpool John Lennon Airport and Liverpool ONE bus station will be stepped up between 8 and 15 May, running every 15 minutes and a free shuttle bus will be running between the Eurovision Fan Zones at the Pier head and Camp and Furnace between 6 and 13 May, between 9pm and 3.30am.
On May 7, an event at George’s Hall will result in the closure of Lime Street, meaning that some bus services will end at London Road and not Queen Square Bus Station. A free shuttle service will run between London Road, Queen Square and Liverpool 1 bus stations.
On the trains, Merseyrail will also be operating a special timetable for events in the city. People have been warned that some stations may be closed.
The latest updates can be found here.
READ NEXT:
Spanish crime spree may provide vital clue in solving teen's murder
Couple 'sacrificed' 20s to get their dream home
Prolific paedophile blames cocaine after tricking kids into sending naked pictures online
I made my first trip to the 'Scouse mountain' and met a fair few Scousers along the way
Heather Mills' life and what she did with Paul McCartney's millions after bitter divorce
