Excellent progress is being made to install the Liverpool City Region’s first CYCLOPS junction in St Helens as part of a pioneering project to make active travel safer.
In November 2022, ground was broken at the Bull & Dog roundabout on Marshalls Cross Road, Lea Green which is being replaced with a CYCLOPS which prioritises the safety of pedestrians and cyclists by segregating them from motorists, reducing the risk of collision.
St Helens-based contractor Huyton Asphalt are well underway with building the CYCLOPs. Having completed the earthworks through the winter months they have now installed the new islands and surfaced the junction. Works are also progressing well on Marshalls Cross Bridge where concrete repairs, waterproofing and footway re-surfacing has been completed. These works have been delivered alongside some statutory service diversion works which are critical to the overall construction programme.
To facilitate the next stage to safely complete areas on the new junction, a 24/7 road closure will be required on Elton Head Road from Lea Green Railway Station entrance to the junction with Marshalls Cross Road over the school Easter holidays from 1-16 April, with a signed diversion in place along St Helens Linkway.
Councillor Andy Bowden, St Helens Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport said:
“St Helens Southern Gateway is a flagship scheme showing how we’re investing in road safety, with the CYCLOPS element the first of its kind in the region which will significantly improve active travel experiences for cyclists and pedestrians around Lea Green, one of the borough’s busiest commuter stations.
“The project – overseen by St Helens-based firm, Huyton Asphalt – is taking shape and as we head into the next phase, it’s inevitable that road closures will be required which could lead to disruption which we’ll look to keep to a minimum.
“The long-term benefits certainly outweigh short-term inconveniences as we strive to ensure the borough’s roads are kept safe and in the best possible condition they can be with the funds available to us, whether you drive, cycle or walk – not just for today, but for the future. I also want to ensure that we lead the way in achieving net zero by 2040, which projects like this support.”
The CYCLOPS is one of a number of improvements being introduced around Lea Green Railway Station as part of St Helens Southern Gateway – funded by the Liverpool City Region’s Transforming Cities Fund – with work underway on a new decked car park and ticket boking system to take Park & Ride capacity to around 450 vehicles; a new station building with waiting room, toilets and other customer facilities – along with seven new walking and cycling routes to connect Lea Green to nearby residential, leisure and employment areas.
The whole St Helens Sothern Gateway scheme is expected to be completed by early summer 2023.
