A major route into Kirkby will shut for five weeks as work continues on a new £80m train station.
Knowsley Council has confirmed County Road will be closed to vehicles from Saturday July 23 until Tuesday August 30 to allow Network Rail to undertake further work on the £80m Headbolt Lane station project. The rail operator needs to close County Road between the junction with St Kevins Drive and the junction of Boyes Brow/Headbolt Lane to replace the existing bridge over County Road.
This will enable the installation of an additional railway track approaching the new station. Work previously began on the construction of a new station at Headbolt Lane in Kirkby as part of Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram's plan to deliver a London-style transport system for the city region. It is expected to open to the public in 2023.
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The new station will extend the Merseyrail network, which currently terminates at Kirkby, to a new location off Headbolt Lane. Access under the railway bridge via the parallel County Road service road will be maintained for cyclists and pedestrians at all times.
Signed diversions will be in place for road users. In advance of the closure and throughout the works, electronic road signs will also be in place to alert motorists at key approaches to County Road. Work will take place throughout the day and overnight.
The local authority has warned “some elements of the work will be noisy but the noisiest elements of the work will take place during the day. Some of the work close to the track will need to take place at night.”
The warning comes after neighbours complained of living in a “nightmare” as work continues on the new station and prompted Network Rail to apologise for the disturbance caused. Cllr Liam Robinson, transport portfolio holder for the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, said: “We’re very grateful for the patience that local residents are showing during the works to build the new station at Headbolt Lane.
“While we understand that this road closure will be disruptive to residents, the end result will be a huge positive for the local community in the form of better links to the local rail network, making it easier for residents to travel for education, work and leisure. This will be another step on our journey towards Mayor Steve Rotheram’s ambition of building a London-style transport system for our region, making getting around as quick, cheap, clean and reliable wherever you live.”
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