Member Article

Cycle-friendly traffic lights included in new Liverpool road scheme

Cyclists are to be given a head start in a £3m package of improvements at a key route in Liverpool city centre.

Funding for the overall programme of improvements has been provided by the Regional Growth Fund as part of a successful bid by the city council for £25m for the North Liverpool City Fringe Investment and Employment Programme.

The work, along the Leeds Street corridor - one of the main routes into the Commercial District and the city centre - will include innovative signals at the junctions with Vauxhall Road and Pall Mall to help cyclists beat traffic.

Under this system, the green cycle signal comes on before the full green, to give bike riders a head start in traffic. The signal expires when the full green light comes on.

Special detectors, using video and thermal imaging are being used which can distinguish cyclists from other vehicles so that the advance lights are not used when there are no cyclists, avoiding delays to other road users.

These are the first traffic lights in Liverpool to use this system - there are very few similar systems in the country.

“This is a highly innovative way we can help cyclists in heavy traffic, “said Councillor Malcolm Kennedy, cabinet member for regeneration and transport.

“It uses the most up to date technology so they can get ahead of other vehicles and also increase their feelings of safety.

“And as the light is not triggered if there are no cyclists present there will be no unnecessary delays to motorists.

“This is part of a package of improvements which are aimed at helping all road users, whether they are motorists, cyclists or pedestrians. It will also help link transport from the east to west by removing pinch points at junctions and improve the capacity of this route as well as providing a better link from North Liverpool to the commercial district.

“Improving access also helps businesses in the area and makes it easier for local residents to get to workplaces or find jobs. These are works which will a have a real and beneficial impact on this part of the city.”

Highways improvements include an additional right turn lane and new pedestrian facilities at Pall Mall, resurfacing work, footway enhancements and improvements to the street lighting.

The planter area on the south side of Leeds Street between Vauxhall Road and Pall Mall will be improved and there will be additional cycle facilities to link in with the recent improvements in Vauxhall Road.

This phase of the work is expected to last until the end of the year. To help reduce disruption, lane closures will take place on the outbound carriageway during the morning peak hours and on the inbound carriageway in the evening rush hour. There will be no work on the carriageway in December to help Christmas traffic.

In the New Year puffin crossings will be installed on Great Howard Street, near to the junction with Oil Street and on Regent Road near to the Bascule Bridge at the junction with Walter Street. All the works will be completed by March.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .