Background
On behalf of Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, and as part of their LCWIP, we developed Birkenhead to New Brighton cycle route. The scheme aimed to promote active travel through the introduction of high-quality cycling and walking infrastructure in the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral.
The scheme design included a new 10km long “origin-destination” corridor with segregated cycle and pedestrian infrastructure. This included junction upgrades and the provision of public realm improvements along the corridor.
The route was also designed to interface with a number of large-scale developments and initiatives. These included Wirral Mass Transit, Wirral Waters, Wirral Waterfront and Tower Road Dockland Regeneration. In advancing the design we made use of existing relationships, developed new relationships, and working collaboratively. We engaged with stakeholders and design teams across a number of organisations. Our technical teams worked hard to accommodate third party proposals and organisational aspirations within the context of recognised industry design standards.
Process
In collaboration with the client, third parties and stakeholders, we:
- Undertook optioneering studies and alternative conceptual designs to maximise segregation and provide a direct route while avoiding areas that had the potential to be contentious
- Developed an overarching and structured engagement strategy which included online events, Q&As, and the preparation and delivery of more than 6,000 letters during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Presented engagement findings, reviewed and revised designs, and
- Provided geometric highway engineering, realignment of the existing corridor to provide a safe, direct and attractive cycle option; upgraded crossings, priority and signalised junctions
Our scheme design was assessed by Active Travel England and the audit resulted in very positive feedback. An outcome which pleased our Client, their partner organisations and our design team.
Impact of our active travel scheme
Not without its challenges, we completed the design in a proactive and timely manner, successfully accommodated a number of competing priorities and objectives. This integrated our design into the existing and future urban infrastructure, embedding the design within the Liscard Town Centre Master Plan.
Our Client feedback, together with the positive feedback from the Active Travel England technical audit included 100% Client satisfaction. The LCRCA Programme Development Manager stated:
We found working with Project centre a particularly collaborative experience. We appreciated the approach undertaken when dealing with partners and some difficult consultation issues. In addition, the technical detail and advice they were able to bring to our project was excellent. This was at times a very difficult commission. The Project Centre Team did a fantastic job against a set of difficult circumstances. Your professionalism was exemplarily.
John Smith, Programme Development Manager, LCRCA
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