Road to close around Liberation Square as part of merger trials

Wednesday 24 April 2019

A link road, which will disappear if Liberation Square and the Weighbridge are merged, will be temporarily closed to assess impact of its potential removal ahead of a vote on the controversial £3million plans.

The temporary closure will take place from 09:00 on Monday 29 April until Thursday 9 May, during which time the Growth, Housing and the Environment (GHE) Department will carry out surveys to study traffic patterns.

As part of the trial, the eastbound slip road from Weighbridge Place towards the Tunnel will be closed to all motor traffic. The westbound slip road from La Route de la Liberation to the Esplanade signed as 'Bus Only' will continue as normal.

Pictured: The eastbound slip road from Weighbridge Place towards the Tunnel will be closed from 29 April to 9 May.

The trial comes as part of £3million proposals to connect Liberation Square and the Weighbridge, which were announced by the Minister, Deputy Kevin Lewis, in December of last year.

The suggested revamp, which is planned to be completed in time for the island’s Liberation 75 celebrations next year, involves getting rid of the road between the two squares, creating “one large, improved public amenity space,” as well as a pétanque court, and an events plaza.

The plans, which were drawn up on the instruction of the previous Council of Ministers with input from the Bailiff, were released for public consultation last month, but have proved controversial. 

Pictured: The slip to the left will be closed from the pedestrian crossing.

The island's key business lobby group, the Chamber of Commerce, criticised the plans. Meanwhile, Deputy Jeremy Maçon, who slammed the proposals as a "vanity project", has launched a bid to halt the project by publishing new proposals to be voted on by the States Assembly.

It is in the wake of Deputy Maçon's proposal being published that the Infrastructure Minister has decided to trial the closure of the road. It is believed that closing the road for 11 days will "begin to allow traffic patterns, similar to what would be expected for the full scheme, to become established." 

Deputy Lewis explained: “Following concerns raised after the proposals to create the public space were unveiled, I said I would make it a political undertaking to ensure there was a trial closure of the road to assess the impact on traffic and islanders before the States debated whether to halt the Liberation 75 plans.”

Pictured: An overview of the proposed revamp of the combined public space in the heart of St. Helier.

Signs will be put up prior to the temporary closure to inform islanders.

As part of the trial, buses will also be stopped from using the westbound slip road at some points and be routed through town to assess the impact on timetables and traffic.

Double-decker buses will go via Conway Street, Library Place, Church Street, Mulcaster Street and Weighbridge Place.