Liverpool city centre residents and visitors are being advised to plan journeys in advance as temporary traffic management measures come into effect to support the River of Light festival and major Merseyrail engineering works this October and November.
The measures include a series of road closures on Water Street and ongoing changes to rail services across the Merseyrail network. Great Howard Street is also currently closed northbound due to emergency electrical works by Scottish Power.
Water Street closures
Dale Street and Water Street between Exchange Street East and Lower Castle Street will close from 8am on Sunday 18 October until 8pm on Tuesday 20 October to allow safe installation of River of Light artworks.
The same section will close again from 8am on Monday 2 November until 8pm on Tuesday 3 November to facilitate safe removal of artworks.
During the festival itself, from Friday 23 October to Sunday 1 November, Dale Street will close to general traffic from Byrom Street to Water Street where it meets The Strand each evening from 5pm to 9pm. Side streets onto Water Street will also close during these hours: Lower Castle Street, Fenwick Street, Rumford Street, Covent Garden, Drury Lane, and Tower Gardens.
Signed diversion routes will be in place during all closures. Drivers are advised to allow extra time for journeys and use alternative routes where possible. Visitors are encouraged to travel by public transport.
Merseyrail changes
Major engineering work on the Merseyrail Northern Line runs during the same period as River of Light. Monday to Saturday, replacement bus services will operate between Hunts Cross and Moorfields, with train services continuing from Liverpool Central to Southport, Ormskirk, and Headbolt Lane.
On Sundays, replacement bus services will operate between Hunts Cross and Sandhills stations, with train services running from Sandhills to Southport, Ormskirk, and Headbolt Lane.
On Sunday 18 October, Wirral line services will terminate at James Street station with no services calling at Moorfields, Lime Street, or Liverpool Central.
On Sunday 25 October and 1 November, replacement bus services will operate between Birkenhead North and Moorfields, and between Rock Ferry and Moorfields. Train services will run between Chester and Ellesmere Port to Rock Ferry, and between West Kirby and New Brighton to Birkenhead North.
For the latest public transport travel information, visit www.merseytravel.gov.uk.
About River of Light
River of Light runs from Friday 23 October to Sunday 1 November and is a free outdoor light art festival. This year's theme is 'Together', featuring 13 installations that focus on how light brings people closer in a joyful way. Some installations are celebrating their world premiere. Artworks will be illuminated nightly from 5pm to 9pm throughout the festival.
The festival attracts tens of thousands of visitors to the city each year. Many artworks are within minutes of James Street station, Moorfields station, and Queen Square bus station, with clearly signposted routes from these transport hubs.