An investment of millions of pounds for the city region’s highways and transport network including Halton,  to help make journeys smoother, faster and safer, will be discussed tomorrow (Fri 4).

In a move to upgrade the region’s roads, the Combined Authority is seeking to approve the indicative allocation of £232.96m from the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement, for a Highways Maintenance and Non-Maintenance package (April 2022 – March 2027)

With Halton earmarked to receive £24.37m for local schemes.

Focussing on key corridors, the proposed package represents a co-ordinated series of measures all designed to support public transport services, relieve congestion and improve air quality for local communities.

The measures include carriageway resurfacing to improve the condition of the roads, drainage works to help prevent flooding and new street lights.

Bus users, cyclists and pedestrians would all also benefit as plans include upgrades to bus shelters, improved footways and cycleways plus new pedestrian crossing schemes.

By contributing to improved transport access across the City Region, this package of measures would in turn support growth as the benefits extend beyond transport, improving access to key sites in the city region for education, housing, health, and productivity.

The proposals are all part of the Metro Mayor’s plans for an integrated London-style transport network that is that makes it easier to use, cheaper, quicker and more reliable.

Subject to approval, Halton Borough Council will be delivering the works with more information about the schemes to be published at a later date.

Halton Borough Council’s Executive Board Member for Transportation, Stef Nelson, said: “This can only be good news for Halton.

“Highway upgrades are designed to improve public transport and active travel. Improvements would help relieve congestion and improve air quality

“Road users to benefit from safer, better journeys. It’s a win win if passed.”

The Combined Authority was awarded an indicative allocation of £710m to fund transformational transport projects through the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements (CRSTS) in November 2021.
The wide range of schemes included in the highways package were identified with the six local authorities as part of the development of the CRSTS bid, with the following funding allocations proposed:
Halton £24.37m
Knowsley £29.19m
Liverpool £50.55m
Sefton £41.11m
St Helens £34.29m
Wirral £37.77m
Merseytravel £15.68m

The Combined Authority is due to consider this proposal at its meeting on Friday 4 March.

Ends

Notes to Editors
As part of the Comprehensive Spending Review in October 2021, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority was indicatively awarded £710million in capital grant to cover local transport investment over a 5-year period between 2022/23 and 2026/27, to be known as the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements (CRSTS).
The aim of the fund is to support programmes of interventions which will enhance sustainable transport connectivity in major city regions, and in particular, supporting the decarbonisation of transport in line with local and national commitments.
An options assessment was undertaken in order to build the Highways Maintenance and Non-Highways Maintenance programmes for the Liverpool City Region. In August 2021, as part of developing the bid for CRSTS, a call for schemes was undertaken with partners submitting a package of works to the CA for review.