The Victoria Gateway project is part of Southend-on-Sea Borough Council’s Better Southend programme.
Work has begun on site and the new layout aims to improve the experience for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users, without having a significant impact on traffic. A new public space linking the station with the town centre will also be created, replacing the existing roundabout with a signal controlled junction.
Work started in January 2010 and is due to complete in March 2011.
Southend-on-Sea Borough Council's Better Southend programme is currently underway. The following is taken from Southend Council's website:
Big changes will be happening across the Borough this year (2010) and we wanted you to be among the first to know. Southend is currently experiencing a once in a lifetime opportunity for renewal and regeneration. Four major projects have been chosen to make the town attractive, reduce congestion and boost our local economy.
Southend-on-Sea has been given £25 million by central government. The Borough Council will use this money on key projects to help the town accelerate out of the recession. But, according to government rules, the money has to be spent by March 2011.
The biggest investment of its kind in Southend's history starts in January 2010. City Beach, Victoria Square, Cuckoo Corner and Progress Road junction along the A127 are all set to benefit from a make-over. The four schemes have been chosen as keys to unlocking Southend's potential. New idea's, new technology and new materials will be used to regenerate and redevelop the town. All the schemes include cycle facilities as part of Southend's status as a cycling town.
Renaissance Southend Ltd helped the council secure the £25 million of government funding. The urban regeneration experts say that the schemes could attract a further £250 million of investment to the town. Now that could make for a very happy 2011.
You can visit the Better Southend website by clicking the link below:
The Victorias Project Design Brief
Funded by Homes and Communities Agency RSL and the Council have prepared a Design Brief outlining proposals for far-reaching improvements to the public realm in the area of Queensway, London Road and Victoria Circus. The project area is called ‘the Victorias’ and is shown on the plan.
The Council has also been awarded additional funding by HM Communities and Local Government to design-up and implement the first phase of the Project called Victoria Gateway, which includes removing the roundabout in favour of a series of new junctions and pedestrian crossings and reclaiming much of this area for use as public space , introducing a new bus priority lane running through the new public space outside Southend Victoria Station, and closing the Deeping that currently links the roundabout with Southchurch Road/Chichester Road.
The scheme will improve way-finding and pedestrian access between Victoria Avenue and the railway station with High Street and overcome the severance imposed by the roundabout and the current highway configuration.