A
major road junction in South Liverpool is to undergo
a huge safety upgrade – with dozens of new trees to be plated to enhance the
area.
Liverpool City Council has contracted Huyton Asphalt Civils to improve the junction of Menlove Avenue and Cromptons Lane, in Allerton, following a spate of traffic accidents in recent years, one of which caused the death of a motor cyclist.
The works
include new traffic signals, introducing a pedestrian
crossing and a new designated right turn lane in both directions on Menlove
Avenue, which became world famous for being the road on which ex-Beatle John
Lennon lived with his Aunt Mimi.
The
£500,000 scheme, which is part of a wider £3.7m highways safety improvement
programme across the city, is expected to complete in May.
It
is estimated that the works, which also includes new highway drainage, road
markings, street lighting and resurfacing the existing carriageway, will
require the removal of approximately 10 trees, which will begin on Monday, 13
January.
This
loss will be compensated with the planting of more than 50 new trees in the area – as part of Liverpool City
Council’s commitment to replant at least three trees for every one removed.
Some
of these trees will be planted in the new junction layout with the remainder
planted along the breadth of Menlove Avenue where circumstances
allow.
Due to the nature of the works, access and egress onto the footways will be restricted and at times will need to be controlled and on occasions for health and safety reasons, the footway may need to be closed.
Councillor
Sharon Connor, Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet member for highways, said: “The Menlove Avenue and
Cromptons Lane junction needs a major upgrade. Its safety track record is far
from satisfactory and these works will make a huge difference to everyone using
it. “The feedback from the
local community has been positive and I’m delighted that the tree planting
scheme will hugely offset the loss of the ones we need to remove to make these
safety improvements.”
