Drop-in information event to be held ahead of CYCLOPS opening

Article date: 25 August 2023

In November last year, work started in Lea Green, St Helens, to install the Liverpool City Region's first Cycle Optimised Protected Signals (CYCLOPS) junction - an award-winning design layout being implemented in more and more cities and towns across the country - which prioritises the safety of pedestrians and cyclists by segregating them from motorists, reducing risk of collision and improving journey times for all road users.   

Replacing the roundabout by the Bull & Dog pub on Marshalls Cross Road, the CYCLOPS forms an integral part of the £15m St Helens Southern Gateway scheme, a partnership between St Helens Borough Council, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Northern Rail to help make sustainable travel an easier choice for commuters who use Lea Green Railway Station, one of the borough's busiest stations.   

As part of ongoing public engagement relating to the scheme, the council has held information drop-in events to inform local residents on the CYCLOPS, with the latest set to take place in Chester Lane Library after the August Bank Holiday where officers from St Helens Borough Council and project contractor, Huyton Asphalt, will be on hand to answer any questions and run through how the CYCLOPS works.  

Councillor Seve Gomez-Aspron, St Helens Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Strategic Transport, said:    

"The CYCLOPS has, without doubt, been the most significant junction improvement scheme we have carried out in recent years and has attracted a lot of attention among residents, which is why we have made a conscious effort to hold events like this and provide regular updates as works progress - particularly to those living or working close to the site.  

"I, like many others, am pleased to see that the scheme is close to an end and looking forward to seeing it in use. It's not as complicated as some fear, for it's like a normal signalised junction for cars but prioritises the safety of pedestrians and cyclists by segregating them from motorists, reducing risk of collision and improving journey times for all road users. Those on foot are able to get to where they need to be in just a few steps, meaning motorists don't need to sit in traffic for as long, so a win all around.  

"There have been a lot of misconceptions about CYLCOPS, so I'd encourage residents to attend this drop-in event to find out the benefits of this project, which helps us with our decarbonisation commitments and supports our recently adopted road safety strategy to ensure our highway network is safe and accessible for all."     

The CYCLOPS drop-in information event will take place in Chester Lane Library on Wednesday 30 August, 2pm-4pm and 5pm-7pm.  

Subject to weather conditions, the CYCLOPS is expected to open to traffic on Monday 4 September, with minor works still being carried out subsequently that don't require traffic management.  

For more information on the CYCLOPS, visit: www.sthelens.gov.uk/cyclops