Bridge Street facelift gets under way

WORK starts tomorrow (Tuesday) on the first stage of the transformation of Warrington’s run down Bridge Street.
A £400,000 environmental project set to enhance lower Bridge Street will get under way – part of the borough council’s bold plan to regenerate the Bridge Street quarter of the town centre.
The work will be carried out in stages, between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday, with every effort made to minimise disruption.
Some work will be carried out at weekends, however.
The aim is for the scheme to be completed before the main Christmas shopping period starts.
Shopkeepers and other stakeholders have been consulted and an ongoing engagement project will minimise disruption of trade.
The Bridge Street Quarter is an innovative project that will regenerate and revitalise a long-established traditional shopping area of the town creating a new family friendly leisure, shopping and restaurant experience with a new market hall and multiplex cinema at its heart.
Plans for the wider regeneration proposals for the area, being delivered as a joint venture project between the council and Muse Developments, will be unveiled for public consultation this autumn.
Cllr Terry O’Neill, leader of the council (pictured), said: “This is a pivotal moment in the regeneration of our town. The start of these works marks the start on site of the Bridge Street Quarter project which will transform and re-energise this traditional heart of the town.”
The main area being worked on in this scheme is from Academy Way/Friars Gate to Bridge Foot.
The east side footpaths will be resurfaced first, followed by the west side. While this is being done, a temporary one-way traffic system will be introduced towards Bridge Foot during working hours.
After this, the road surface will be renewed and Bridge Street will be closed to traffic. The road will be reopened outside working hours.
Diversion routes are via Barbauld Street and Bridge Foot.
The council will be working with local businesses to make arrangements for access to properties in Bridge Street during the works. Pedestrian access will be maintained at all times.
Access to the Market car park will be available as usual from Academy Way.
During working hours, bus services using Bridge Street towards the town centre will be diverted along Mersey Street and Academy Street, and will set down near Time Square car park in Academy Street.
Buses travelling from town will be able to use the stops in Bridge Street until the road is closed, and then they will be diverted.
More information about the scheme is on the council’s
website www.warrington.gov.uk, in the Transport and Roads/Roadworks section.