Atlas Street Improvements

Traffic has always had difficulty in negotiating the junction of Standish Street, Pocket Nook Street and Atlas Street. Glassworks, foundry and Gas Works were all inconvenienced by the sharp turns involved as Standish Street crossed the canal bridge. In recent times, the site of the bridge has been filled in to form an embankment and provide access to the Technical College Campus, so traffic flow has been a little easier although movement out of Atlas Street has continued to be awkward.

The road bridge (sections cast in St. Helens Foundry) over the railway tracks has now become unsafe and restricted to one-way traffic so is to be replaced by a new structure. The local authority is seizing the opportunity to combine the bridge work with improvements to Atlas Street.

The society was concerned that the new bridge should in no way form further restrictions to the course of the canal, which St. Helens M.B.C. has agreed to protect. In order to do this, the new bridge will therefore not descend so steeply after crossing the railway tracks, but will continue at such a height as to allow headroom for navigation on the canal when this is restored. However, the plans are not specific about the treatment of the entrance to the Campus. Allowing for navigable height under Standish Street is of little virtue without allowing for a similar facility beneath that embankment. If access was allowed for beneath both roadways, the waterway could be opened from Corporation Street to the embankment above the New Double Locks.

Meanwhile, Atlas Street is to be widened at its northern end to allow three lanes of traffic, whilst at the southern end traffic will become two-way and Ardwick Street will be closed off. Boundaries will be improved, grounds landscaped and access provided for the development of the old foundry site.

The Society is appreciative of the consideration given to the canal by the M.B.C., but is asking for clarification regarding the Campus entrance.

Peter Keen.

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