Article date – 15 January 2019

There will be three weeks of overnight closures between the hours of 22:00-06:00 from Monday 21 January to Thursday 7 February, as follows:

21 January to 26 January – A580 westbound and Rainford Road. During this closure, there will be no access/exit to Tesco and Starbucks from the A580 westbound carriageway;

28 January to 2 February – A580 eastbound and A570 northbound;

4 February to 7 February – A570 southbound, A580 eastbound and Crank Road.

The purpose of these closures is to enable the installation of signal ducting across the highway. Works are likely to introduce noise, and additional lighting may be necessary, directed away from homes where possible.

The work is subject to weather conditions, particularly sensitive due to traffic management installation – and road users are advised to take alternative routes where possible, allowing extra journey time.

Access to homes and businesses will be maintained at all times.

Pedestrian access will also be maintained via the permanent crossing route; however a diversion of the existing pathway if needed will be installed around the construction works, suitably signed.

The next major traffic management switch will take place towards the end of February.

Works are now progressing ahead of schedule and an early completion is expected, which these overnight closures will further support.

The £7m investment to improve Windle Island – the oldest purpose designed intercity highway in the UK, which sees around 27,000 vehicles pass through a day – began in August to increase junction capacity; improve pedestrian safety, smooth traffic flow – and provide better access in and out of St Helens.

Over half of the scheme is being funded by the Local Growth Fund through the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s Single Investment Fund after it was approved by the LCR Combined Authority following a successful business case submission to address key issues in St Helens, and to support economic growth in the wider City Region.

Improvements include:

  • New signalised junction of Rainford Bypass/Crank Road with traffic lights linked to those on the main junction to maximise vehicle throughput while improving safety for vehicles using the junction to access/egress Crank Road along with providing a controlled crossing for users of the cycle/footpath on the east side of the Rainford Bypass.
  • A new four lane southbound approach to Windle Island Junction, providing a dedicated left turning lane to A580 eastbound towards Manchester and a dedicated right turning lane to A580 westbound towards Liverpool.
  • The reintroduction of two lanes southbound through the junction, with the left hand lane for St Helens Town Centre via Rainford Road (including Tesco and Starbucks access), and the right hand lane for Eccleston and Prescot via Bleak Hill Road.
  • A new left turn deceleration lane from A580 westbound onto A570 southbound to reduce queue lengths and improve safety.
  • Two dedicated right turn lanes from the A580 westbound (towards Liverpool) onto the A570 northbound (towards Rainford). This will reduce queue lengths.
  • A new 40 mph speed limit around the junction to improve safety.

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