GRAHAM is set to commence works on two major highway
improvement schemes in Birkenhead town centre, on behalf of Wirral Council.
Both schemes are designed to make the areas more
attractive and improve accessibility and safety for all road users, including
cyclists and pedestrians.
Funded from a combination of sources, including the UK
government’s Future High Street Fund (FHSF) and Liverpool City Region Combined
Authority’s Active Travel fund, the programmes will complement the wider
Birkenhead regeneration plans that are already underway in the town.
The project team have started setting up work compounds,
with work starting in May and running through to the summer of 2025.
One of the highway schemes covers the area close to Conway
Park railway station and Birkenhead bus station. On Conway Street, between
Hemingford Street and Argyle Street, there will be a full replacement of the
footpath on the north side of the road, with new trees complementing the
existing ones. There will also be a segregated cycleway created on the north
side of the road with better pedestrian and cycle crossing points along Conway
Street.
As part of the same scheme, the existing dual carriageway
on Europa Boulevard will be reduced, and a new cycleway created using the west
side of the carriageway, and two-way traffic will be introduced on the east
side of Europa Boulevard. This part of the scheme also includes the replacement
of the current paving.
The final part of this scheme will see the Europa Square
car park reconfigured to provide a better, safer connection for pedestrians and
cyclists between Birkenhead bus station and Conway Park railway station. It
will result in the loss of 50 car parking spaces in the car park.
The total funding allocated to delivering this programme is
£8.9million consisting of nearly £4 million from the UK government’s Future
High Streets Fund – part of a £25m FHSF award to Wirral – and £3.85 million
from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. The remainder of the funding
is provided through the Wirral Growth Company.
The other scheme, which is fully funded by a £2.9m award
from the Future High Streets Fund, is taking place around Charing Cross and the
junction with Grange Road and Grange Road West.
The junction itself will see improved pedestrian crossings
and new paving installed, while on Grange Road there will also be new paving,
as well as new trees planted to complement the existing ones and there will be
an increased focus on preventing vehicles accessing this area outside of
loading times.
As part of this scheme of works, a new one-way will be
trialled on Grange Road West allowing traffic to drive down Grange Road West
only in a westerly direction between Charing Cross and Clayton Street. As this
part of the programme is a trial, residents will be able to provide feedback on
its effectiveness after it is completed ahead of any decision as to whether the
change will be made permanent.
For more information and regular updates visit Wirral
Council dedicated scheme webpages: