Super highway to Switch Island could cut through Rimrose Country Park

Larry Neild 3 March 2016

IT'S the missing link, creating one of the biggest bottledecks on Merseyside.

Moving lorries between the Port of Liverpool and the motorway network has never been a breeze. And with a £300m deep water port about to be launched, things are not likely to get better on the suburban dual carriageway that runs from Seaforth to Switch Island.

So what to do? The Highways Agency has a couple of proposals: Improve the current Dunningsbridge Road through Litherland and other communities which go up to the M57 and M58.

Alternatively, build a new, multi-million pound link cutting through Rimrose Valley Country Park behind Waterloo and Crosby to Thornton's new Brooms Cross Road (A5758) which runs up to the motorways.

There is no preferred route, yet, it says, but it will spell out the two options to the people who live, work and travel in the affected areas at a series of public events beginning tomorrow.

Rimrose Valley Country Park stretches from Waterloo to Thornton

A picnic area at Rimrose Valley Country Park which stretches from Waterloo to Thornton

Highways England says it is "exploring ways of upgrading the route between the motorway network and the port, reducing congestion and improving journey reliability for businesses, commuters and other road users – supporting expansion of the port and other investment in the area".

We are currently looking at two options says the website:

Upgrade the existing road - we are describing this as the Online Options. This option focuses on four key junctions: Hawthorn Road (1), Netherton Way (2), Park Lane (3) and Copy Lane (4).
Build a new road through the Rimrose Valley linking to the Broom's Cross Road (Thornton to Switch Island Link) - we are describing this as the Offline option.

The Port of Liverpool, bottom left and the M57/M58 are currently linked by the clogged artery of Princess Way and Dunnings Bridge Road. But that could all change if a road through Rimrose Valley Country Park is built

A spokesman added: "The Port of Liverpool is one of the country's largest ports for freight goods, it makes a significant contribution to the local economy and is an important source of employment for the local community.

"The port is already the busiest in the North West and with the opening of Liverpool2, a new deep water container terminal built following a £300m investment, it is set to become busier.

"This development is great news for jobs and the regional economy but this growth is dependent upon freight being able to access the port. The cost of the scheme will vary, subject to which option is selected as the preferred route."

Project Manager Carl Stockton adds: “We’ve done a lot of preliminary work and assessments to help develop these two options and these information events will give local people the chance to come and talk to us and find out more.

"Once assessment and consultation phases are complete, we can begin to identify preferred option/scheme."

The public information exhibitions will take place at:
• Litherland Sports Club on Friday 4 March (2pm to 8pm)
• Netherton Library on Monday 7 March (10am to 5pm)
• All Saints and Frydeswide’s Church Hall on Thursday 10 March (2pm to 8pm)
• Crosby Library on Friday 11 March (10am to 5pm)
Members of the team will also be available for an informal question and answer session at Maghull Library (Hall Lane, Maghull, L31 7BB) on Thursday 3rd March from 1pm.