Liverpool’s £12m Vauxhall Road Cycling and Walking Upgrade Starts 2026

Key Points

• Construction work on a £12m active travel scheme on Vauxhall Road in Liverpool will start from Wednesday, 28 October 2026.
• The works will span over 2km of Vauxhall Road between Tithebarn Street and Sandhills Lane.
• It includes an integrated cycle lane, improvement to footpaths, installation of pedestrian crossings and resurfacing of the carriageway.
• Improvements to junctions will be made at Leeds Street, Burlington Street, Boundary Street and Sandhills Lane.
• According to the Liverpool City Council, the plan is designed to increase safety and accessibility as well as reliability of travel for pedestrians, cyclists, wheelchair users and motorists in the area.
• An 81% approval of the plan was garnered from 93 responses during a public consultation which took place in September and October 2024.
• Part funding for the plan comes from Active Travel England while the plan forms part of Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan.
• Dan Barrington, the Cabinet Member for Transport and Connectivity at Liverpool City Council, described the plan as offering good quality accessible travel routes for all.

Liverpool (Liverpool standard) October 23, 2026 — A £12 million scheme to improve walking, wheeling and cycling conditions along Vauxhall Road is scheduled to begin later this month, with work set to start on Wednesday 28 October.

As reported by Liverpool Express, the project will improve more than 2km of Vauxhall Road between Tithebarn Street and Sandhills Lane. The council describes it as a major investment in safety and accessibility along one of Liverpool’s key routes.

What Will the Vauxhall Road Scheme Include?

The works will introduce a fully segregated cycle lane, upgraded footpaths and new pedestrian crossings at busy junctions, including Leeds Street, Burlington Street, Boundary Street and Sandhills Lane. The carriageway will also be resurfaced throughout the scheme.

According to Liverpool City Council’s consultation record, the proposals include an improved, continuous one-way cycle path on both sides of Vauxhall Road and Commercial Road, with fully resurfaced footways. Kerbs are planned to separate pedestrians, cyclists and motorised traffic for most of the route.

New dedicated controlled crossings are proposed at existing signalised junctions, alongside additional pedestrian and cycle crossings at other points on the route.

Why Is Liverpool Investing £12m?

Liverpool City Council says the central aim is to create safer, more reliable journeys for people walking, wheeling and cycling, while improving the overall layout for all road users. The council has also stated that reducing collisions is a key focus of the design.

The scheme forms part of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan, which is developing a network of high-quality active travel routes across the region. Funding will come in part from Active Travel England.

Liverpool City Council says the wider regional ambition is to create 600km of active travel infrastructure, intended to better connect communities, provide more safe travel choices, reduce congestion and improve health.

What Did Residents Say About the Plans?

Initial proposals were shared with residents in September 2024. Liverpool City Council received 93 responses through an online survey, in-person events and direct email.

As reported by Liverpool Express, 81% of respondents supported the plans. The council’s consultation results confirm that 81% agreed or strongly agreed that the scheme should be progressed.

Consultees were also asked about two potential options for the Commercial Road, Sandhills Lane and Lambeth Road junction. Most respondents, 53%, preferred an option that would realign Sandhills Lane and Lambeth Road to create an improved junction for pedestrians, cyclists and motorised traffic. The council says this option would require some adjustments to adjacent public open space.

What Has the Council Said?

Councillor Dan Barrington, Cabinet Member for Transport and Connectivity, said the works would create accessible, high-quality routes for everyone travelling through this part of the city.

As reported by Liverpool Express, Councillor Barrington said: “By giving people safe, dedicated space for walking, wheeling and cycling, we’re making it easier for residents to choose active travel when it suits them.”

He added that, for people continuing to travel by car, better-designed junctions, clearer crossings and fully segregated cycle lanes would mean safer and more predictable journeys for all road users.

How Does the Project Fit Wider Liverpool Plans?

The Vauxhall Road scheme is part of a broader programme of active travel investment in Liverpool. In 2023, Liverpool City Council considered allocating £10.95m from Active Travel England to enhance routes into fully segregated active travel corridors, including the Vauxhall Road route into the city centre.

Earlier in 2026, Liverpool City Council approved a design contract for preliminary work on the wider Vauxhall and Greatie corridors. That contract, running for 48 weeks, was intended to develop detailed proposals for walking, wheeling, cycling and public transport infrastructure across several wards in north Liverpool.

The council has previously said the Vauxhall Road route was among three original pop-up cycle lanes considered for conversion into permanent corridors, alongside West Derby Road and Sefton Park.

When Will the Work Start and What Happens Next?

Liverpool Express reports that works are set to begin on Wednesday 28 October 2026. The report does not provide a completion date in the material available for this article.

Earlier reporting by Birkenhead News said the wider Vauxhall Road and Commercial Road scheme could begin in October 2026, with a completion date of 2028 pencilled in.

The council says feedback from the consultation will be considered at the detailed design and implementation stages.

Background of the Development

The Vauxhall Road active travel proposals were first consulted on in September and October 2024. Liverpool City Council asked residents for views on creating a continuous one-way cycle path on both sides of Vauxhall Road and Commercial Road, with resurfaced footways, kerb separation and new crossings.

The consultation formed part of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s plan to develop 600km of active travel infrastructure across the region. The council said the programme is intended to improve connections between communities, expand safe travel choices, reduce congestion and support public health.

In July 2026, Liverpool Express reported that a council Cabinet report recommended appointing a contractor to deliver the improvements along more than 2km of Vauxhall Road and Commercial Road. The report said the designs had been refined following consultation and were ready for delivery, subject to Cabinet approval.

Prediction: How Will This Affect Liverpool Residents and Road Users?

For residents, commuters and businesses along Vauxhall Road, the scheme is likely to bring short-term disruption during construction, including changes to traffic arrangements, footway access and junction operation. Once complete, the council expects safer crossings, improved footpaths and segregated cycling space to make walking, wheeling and cycling more practical for local journeys.

For cyclists, the fully segregated lane is intended to provide dedicated space separated from motor traffic for most of the route. For pedestrians and wheelchair users, upgraded footways and additional crossings are designed to reduce barriers to movement.

For drivers, resurfacing and redesigned junctions may improve the predictability of journeys, although the introduction of segregated cycle infrastructure and new crossings could alter traffic flow at certain locations. The council’s stated position is that the changes are intended to create safer, more predictable journeys for all road users.