The UK roads minister has visited Liverpool to assess proposals to increase transport links to the expanded Liverpool2 terminal opening this summer.

Liverpool2 aims to triple capacity at the site but there been plenty of concerns raised about vehicle congestion and air pollution resulting from increased road traffic.

There is a proposal to develop the A5036 but this could take a long time to deliver. It’s already one of the most congested roads in the North of England with tens of thousands of vehicle movements.

By 2018 it’s hoped that proposals could be submitted with building starting in early 2020. But the government does not yet have a scheme it can recommend.

Meanwhile, the port is developing a ‘hub and spoke’ system to try to tackle the problem. This involves transporting cargoes by water, using the Manchester Ship Canal, or rail, helping to get boxes off the roads.

In the long term the UK Government aims to reduce vehicle emissions to zero by 2050. It’s hoped that electric and hydrogen-driven vehicles and low-emission fuels will help meet the deadline.