Charles Street re-opens
MAJOR reconstruction work on Leicester’s Charles Street has now been completed.
The road fully re-opens on Sunday (July 1), after an extensive 11-month programme of improvement works.
Pavements have been widened and given a new granite surface, dedicated loading and disabled parking bays have been introduced, and the junctions at Halford Street and Rutland Street have been upgraded with new signals and pedestrian crossings.
New lamp columns have been installed, as well as decorative ground lights on the footways and the central reservation. And trees will be planted in the central reservation in the autumn.
Leicester City Council cabinet member for regeneration and transport, Councillor Patrick Kitterick, said: “This was an essential piece of work that will help link the emerging Cultural Quarter with the city centre.
“When the pedestrianisation of the eastern side of Halford Street is complete, pedestrians will have a seamless route from the city centre to the new Performing Arts Centre.”
From Sunday, northbound traffic on Charles Street – except buses, taxis, disabled badge holders and vehicles that are loading or unloading – will have to turn right on to Rutland Street, following the pedestrianisation of Halford Street.
Access to the Rutland Centre car park will be via Rutland Street and Wigston Street.
Buses that have been re-routed during the works will be back on Charles Street from Sunday.
“The bus companies and businesses in the area have had to put up with a lot of inconvenience over the past 11 months,” added Councillor Kitterick.
“So I’d like to thanks them for their patience and co-operation during the works.”
The reconstruction of Charles Street is part of the city council’s £5.4 million Cultural Quarter scheme that will transform the St George’s area over the next few years
The road fully re-opens on Sunday (July 1), after an extensive 11-month programme of improvement works.
Pavements have been widened and given a new granite surface, dedicated loading and disabled parking bays have been introduced, and the junctions at Halford Street and Rutland Street have been upgraded with new signals and pedestrian crossings.
New lamp columns have been installed, as well as decorative ground lights on the footways and the central reservation. And trees will be planted in the central reservation in the autumn.
Leicester City Council cabinet member for regeneration and transport, Councillor Patrick Kitterick, said: “This was an essential piece of work that will help link the emerging Cultural Quarter with the city centre.
“When the pedestrianisation of the eastern side of Halford Street is complete, pedestrians will have a seamless route from the city centre to the new Performing Arts Centre.”
From Sunday, northbound traffic on Charles Street – except buses, taxis, disabled badge holders and vehicles that are loading or unloading – will have to turn right on to Rutland Street, following the pedestrianisation of Halford Street.
Access to the Rutland Centre car park will be via Rutland Street and Wigston Street.
Buses that have been re-routed during the works will be back on Charles Street from Sunday.
“The bus companies and businesses in the area have had to put up with a lot of inconvenience over the past 11 months,” added Councillor Kitterick.
“So I’d like to thanks them for their patience and co-operation during the works.”
The reconstruction of Charles Street is part of the city council’s £5.4 million Cultural Quarter scheme that will transform the St George’s area over the next few years