Major overhauls of two of Liverpool city centre's busiest roads were approved this morning in a move that could radically change the city centre.
The council's cabinet gave approval to plans to radically alter both the Strand and Lime Street as part of wider changes to how traffic flows through the city centre.
Images released by the council earlier this week show how vehicle lanes in Lime Street will be reduced while a new public square and fountain will be added.
There will also be major changes to the road network on the Strand, with a cycle lane among the new additions.
Mayor Joe Anderson said there were still minor changes to be made to the plans but said they were necessary to help Liverpool meet climate and air quality targets while also adapting to the continued growth of the city centre.
Mayor Anderson said: "This is a hugely important piece of work that I think ticks all the boxes and gets it right.
"If we do not do it now we well have to do something even more radical in the future, we simply don't have the choice of doing nothing."
The work on the Strand and Lime Street are part of the larger Liverpool City Centre Connectivity Scheme.
It has already led to changes on Victoria Street, Brownlow Hill and Tithebarn Street.
The report approved by cabinet this morning gave delegated authority to the director of regeneration to lead on the new work and award construction contracts.
However because the holder of that post, Nick Kavanagh, was arrested on December 18 on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and misconduct in a public office, the work will be managed by assistant director for highways Andy Barr.
