The Hall Lane Strategic Gateway scheme is a £20m project which will greatly improve the route into the city centre from the M62 as well as removing a notorious bottleneck.

The first phase of the project involves site clearance, the acquisition of buildings, demolition of some buildings and work on utilities diversions.

It is hoped that approval for the funding for the main phase of the work will be granted by the Department for Transport at the end of next month with work starting on the second phase in June. Funding is also being provided under the European Regional Development Fund.

The scheme will improve the situation for traffic heading to the city centre from Edge Lane, which currently must turn either left or right into Hall Lane or Towerlands Street at the top of Mount Vernon Green.

Both of these routes are residential roads and traffic is subject to delay.

New road alignments will take traffic away from the residential areas of Hall Lane and Towerlands Street and will be in dual carriageway  for most of its length.

There will be a new junction at West Derby Street/Crown Street directing traffic north along a new stretch of road towards Low Hill and then on to Islington, or south along a realigned Grove Street.

The junction at Low Hill will be improved and this new link will improve traffic flow between Islington and Grove Street.

Pedestrian facilities will be provided at all traffic signal controlled junctions and cycling facilities are also being introduced. The scheme will include extensive landscaping, including tree planting, and improved lighting.

A residents parking scheme is being prepared for the Kensington Fields area.

Liberal Democrat Cllr Peter Millea, Executive Member for Assets and Development, said:  "The local community, as well as motorists, will be delighted that the Hall Lane scheme is under way.

"It will provide much better access into the city centre and a much better environment for the neighbourhood.

"It will also provide a new frontage to the Royal Liverpool Hospital development and will be a much better gateway to the city."

Work is due for completion by the end of 2010.