ST HELENS Linkway will benefit from improvement works costing just short of £5.5 million, if plans get the go-ahead.

Councillors were set to meet last night (Wednesday) to look at papers recommending the authority contribute 10 per cent of the cost of the works, the rest of which - £4,949,720 - will come from Liverpool City Region funding.

St Helens Council, which would channel £549,969 into the works, is advised the upgrade would lead to fewer pedestrian and cyclist accidents and improve journey times by easing congestion.

The St Helens Linkway, or A570, came into operation in 1994 and was constructed using European funding.

According to a business case prepared by Liverpool consultants Mott MacDonald, the linkway is now "a severely congested corridor in St Helens, particularly at Sherdley and Sutton Hall roundabouts."

Improvements also would be of regional benefit, according to the consultants, with the route providing key north-south movements within St Helens, access to the M62, M58 and a "vital link" for routes to Knowsley Business Park, Haydock Industrial Park and the proposed Parkside Rail Freight

Interchange.

The work would consist of widening lanes and installing new pedestrian crossings at Sherdley and Sutton Hall roundabouts, and enhancing safety at the School Lane crossing by improving signage and lighting.

The consultants' report adds: "Heavy congestion on the junctions also impedes the ability of pedestrians and cyclists to travel safely in the area."

It says the scheme would help to drive growth in St Helens with regards to the town centre's regeneration and the "visitor economy", estimating it could lead to 82 jobs and bring an extra £4m to the local economy per year.

It describes the road's current condition as "a barrier" to new employment and housing developments.

Other benefits of the improvements are listed as lower carbon emissions due to the reduction in queuing traffic, and improved condition and function of the carriageway.

A detailed design review is being carried out to identify and remove any risks during construction. The work is expected to be carried out from March 2017 to March 2018.

The infrastructure works would link in with major road improvements proposed for Windle Island, also on the A570.