Traffic warning as town centre road improvements start

WORK started today on key road improvements supporting Warrington’s ambitious town centre regeneration plans.
Important work on Academy Street, Academy Way, Buttermarket Street and Scotland Road is getting under way – and will inevitably disrupt traffic in the town centre.
Improvements will include highway and footway resurfacing, new kerbing and drainage construction.
It forms part of the £107 million Time Square scheme, a retail and leisure-led development that is being carried out by the borough council to revitalise the traditional retail heart of Warrington’s town centre and Bridge Street area.
The council is asking people to be patient during the improvement works, which will continue until early April and are likely cause some disruption.
Leader of the council, Cllr Terry O’Neill, said: “These are exciting times in Warrington. The town centre is undergoing a remarkable transformation and these important works are part of this.
“As with any regeneration scheme of this scale, there will always be some level of disruption. We are working hard to keep this to a minimum and I would ask people to bear with us while these road works are carried out.
“When completed, these improvements will bring huge benefits to motorists and pedestrians alike, as well as completing another important piece in the jigsaw of the Time Square development.”
Motorists are advised that there will be diversions in place for the duration of the works, which will cause delays to journeys. Public transport users should be aware that there will also be minor bus route diversions in the area.
Advanced signs are in place to advise motorists of potential disruption. Contractors have also been liaising with local businesses to keep them fully informed, and will continue to do so throughout the works.
Pedestrian traffic management is also in operation on upper Bridge Street to safeguard the public while construction of a new substation off Dolmans Lane. The traffic management will be place for two months while the work is completed.
When completed in 2019, the Time Square scheme will create a new family-friendly shopping, restaurant and leisure experience with a newly developed, contemporary market hall and state-of-the-art multiplex cinema at its heart.