Another roadworks programme has started up again after the County Road saga finally came to an end.
Liverpool Council has confirmed overnight works have started up again on Walton Lane having briefly got underway for the first time in February. The scheme is slated to finish by the end of this month with works taking place from 7pm to 6am Monday to Friday.
Work began on Walton Lane three months ago when a design review was implemented on County Road after the project’s Christmas hiatus. As that much delayed project recommended, progress was paused on Walton Lane once again.
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When the improvements began in February, it was expected that closures would be in place for up to eight weeks. After three years, work on County Road finally came to a close last Friday.
It had been hoped the long-running programme would be finished by the middle of April to allow Walton Lane to complete by the end of the same month. It had originally been earmarked for an end of June finish.
The recommenced resurfacing scheme will now operate 20mph speed limits during the life of the project near to Goodison Park. Roadworks have been a thorn in the side of residents, motorists and businesses alike throughout L4 after being besieged by delays and problems.
County Road was undergoing a near £6m revamp when its original contractor, Viam - known as Kings Construction - went into administration during the summer of 2021. The contractor’s collapse left the road surface incomplete with large patches where the tarmac had been torn up and not replaced.
The roadworks are part of a wider programme to upgrade the city’s highways network over the coming decade. Cllr Dan Barrington, Liverpool Council cabinet member for environment and climate change, acknowledged there had been deep frustration around the scheme but lessons could be learned as a result.
He said Walton Lane will now be the focus of work and “hopefully with settled weather, the contractor will get a smooth run and there’s no more setbacks. I want to thank everyone for their patience over the past 12 months.”
Cllr Barrington said it had been a “challenging experience for everyone and we’ve learned some valuable lessons that are shaping what we do in the future.”
