Road demolished for planned roundabout
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DIGGERS have marked the start of demolition works to pave the way for Runcorn’s Station Quarter roundabout.
The sound of roadbreaking rang out as separate crews set to work smashing the carriageway at the top of the Weston Point Expressway and on the trumpet loop link for the Silver Jubilee Bridge (SJB).
Piles
of debris were steadily building near the Crosville Way car park.
Once completed the removal of the SJB flyover is completed, a five-way roundabout will then be built in its place along with a pedestrian piazza outside Runcorn railway station.
This is intended to replace the ‘grey’ and ‘dull’ concrete view welcoming arriving passengers at present, and encourage them to explore the town centre, which is earmarked to be transformed with the construction of the Station Quarter.
Urban planning council chiefs met yesterday at Runcorn Town Hall for an update and presentation featuring a computergenerated video of how the area could look in future.
Design consultants in 2017 said their vision would be to inject the ‘wow factor’ into Runcorn.
A sod-cutting event took place in April to symbolically mark the start of works.
The roundabout is expected to be finished this autumn, with the SJB to re-open as a one-lane each way with cycling and pedestrian lanes in early 2020.
Once re-opened, residents on foot will cross the bridge on the inside of the main bridge structure.
The project has been linked to the Mersey Gateway Regeneration Plan programme of works looking to exploit opportunities presented by the bridge works.
Other Runcorn neighbourhoods targeted in the scheme include Astmoor Industrial Estate, a £1.5m busway upgrade and the ‘Halton Lea NHS Healthy New Town’.
There has been longterm clamour for the regeneration of Runcorn town centre or ‘Old Town’ with several false starts and ideas failing to make the move from concept to reality including the ‘Canal Quarter’.