Transport Secretary, Patrick McLoughlin, recently visited Merseyside to name the new A5758 Broom’s Cross Road and see how major transport improvements are helping to create a Northern Powerhouse.

He traveled along the new link, between Thornton and Switch Island, which will transform road journeys for communities north of Liverpool, relieving congestion on local roads and driving development in Southport, Netherton and the Port of Liverpool.

The Transport Secretary will also meet staff and apprentices involved in the construction project and will officially name the road, linking the A565 Southport Road and the M57/M58 Switch Island Junction.

The work is part of the government’s commitment to build a Northern Powerhouse that will help the north of England unleash its full power, and create a balanced, healthier economy.

A blueprint of how £13bn is transforming transport links across the north was published recently by the Department for Transport and included new electric trains services between Manchester, Liverpool and Wigan; the opening of a refurbished Manchester Victoria station; new rail services and capacity between Leeds and Manchester; improvements to rail services between Sheffield and Manchester and 40 road improvement schemes up to 2020/21 (which the government says will create over 2,000 jobs).

Transport Secretary, Patrick McLoughlin, said:

“This one nation government is determined to close the economic gap between north and south. Investing in transport – something that successive governments have failed to do sufficiently – is vital to making that happen.

“We had a choice – building the infrastructure our country needs, or letting our transport system become a brake on growth and opportunity. We have chosen to invest for the future.

“Across the north, that investment is already having a huge impact, with programmes – like the impressive new Broom’s Cross Road – to upgrade our railways and our roads. We are determined to keep the momentum going.”

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