Liverpool Embarks on a Multi-Million Pound Roads Overhaul

Marc Hobbins Posted On November 22, 2023

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Liverpool City Council has embarked on the next phase of its ambitious Highways Investment Programme (HIP), commissioning three esteemed contractors to rejuvenate over 29 roads across the city. This £11 million eco-conscious project marks a significant leap in road maintenance, promising a greener and more efficient infrastructure.

The project’s framework is strategically divided among three zones:

North Liverpool: Dowhigh leads the charge with 10 targeted schemes.
Central District: Huyton Asphalt Civils takes the helm with 11 initiatives.
South Liverpool: Tarmac Trading Ltd oversees 8 key schemes.

The central phase of HIP is already in motion, while the north and south segments are in their planning and investigative stages, with physical construction expected to commence between late 2023 and early 2024.

Prominent roads set for enhancement include Priory Road and Townsend Lane in Anfield, Princess Drive and Finch Lane in Yew Tree, and Alderfield Drive alongside Alder Wood Avenue in Speke.

This initiative follows the successful completion of 70 schemes in 2022 and 2023, where £19.425 million was invested in highway infrastructure. Notable completions include Altcross Road, Bull Lane, Larkfield Road, Aigburth Vale, Banks Road, and Mersey Road.

A hallmark of the HIP programme is its focus on environmental sustainability. The first phase achieved a remarkable reduction of 68 tonnes in CO₂ emissions through innovative decarbonisation methods. Additionally, recycling efforts have diverted over 3,000 tonnes of hard-to-recycle waste from landfills.

Key achievements of phase one include:

Over 100,000m² of new carriageway resurfacing.
Installation of 100+ new tactile crossings for enhanced accessibility.
Investments exceeding £1.2 million and £2.1 million in local MSMEs and supply chains, respectively.
Nearly £1 million invested in micro asphalt surface treatments across 40 sites.
Completion of 163 weeks of apprenticeships and hiring 19 long-term unemployed individuals.

Councillor Dan Barrington, Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change, said “I’m delighted we’ve appointed the contractors to deliver this next phase of our highways improvement programme.
“They are all experienced firms with a long track record of delivery in the city region, and the local supply chain will benefit greatly from this investment – as they did in phase one.
“Some schemes will begin immediately and we know this will mean disruption, but the long term gains for our communities will be worth it, with safer roads for everyone to use.
“We said the first year of HIP wouldn’t be perfect but the teams achieved and learnt a huge amount, and this will certainly help improve how we do deliver these new schemes.
“I’m also thrilled at the carbon reduction achieved in the programme and the attitude of our contractors to join us in our commitment to achieve net zero.
“There’s more we can do, which is why we’re heavily investing in more active travel solutions but where people need to take the car we’re making our roads a more environmentally-friendly solution to upkeeping our highways.”